DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 19 



of another attack two months previous. The eyes 

 were clouded over, showing all the appearance of a 

 constitutional ophthalmia (moon blindness). He wished 

 me to report especially on the advisability of placing 

 her on his stock-farm for breeding purposes. Knowing 

 as I do how strong is the tendency for eye diseases to 

 be inherited, I was compelled to advise against the 

 step he contemplated. I should have been exceedingly 

 derelict in my duty had I done otherwise. Whenever 

 an animal is the subject of cataract, or cloudiness on 

 the front of the eye thus showing the effect of ophthal- 

 mia it should be rigidly excluded from the breeding 

 farm. 



OSTITIS or SORE SHINS. This may be consid- 

 ered almost exclusively a disease peculiar to thorough- 

 breds, and from the fact [that many otherwise good 

 horses break down when young from this disease, they 

 are very likely to be sent to the stud for breeding pur- 

 poses. Now, inasmuch as the very fact of their having 

 broken down is a proof of constitutional weakness in the 

 bones of the limbs, it should be a sufficient cause to 

 prevent breeders from getting more of the same kind 

 of weak-boned weeds that are more than likely to turn 

 out to be useless as racers or for any other purpose. 

 Beware of an animal that shows the sign of having 

 been at any time affected with sore shins. 



RHEUMATISM. Although rheumatism as a disease 

 may not be directly inherited, the constitutional condi- 

 tion which makes an animal peculiarly subject to it is 

 probably inherited. I should therefore strongly ad- 

 vise against breeding from an animal tnat is the subject 

 of rheumatism. 



RICKETS This is a constitutional disease and af- 



