176 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



the inner angle, the principal or only hair is found 

 on the lower lid. All of which most beautifully 

 proves design in the formation and adaptation of the 

 animal. The eyelashes should on no account what- 

 ever be cut, as they have a most important office to 

 fill, not only preventing the eye from being injured by 

 dazzling light, but also protecting it from the intrusion 

 of insects. 



The horse is destitute of eyebrows, but in their 

 stead he is provided with a number of scattered bristly 

 hairs, as also a projecting fold of the upper eyelid, 

 which answers the same purpose. Some persons are 

 so foolish as to cut off these hairs, and have absurdly 

 attributed them to weakness. The under eyelid also 

 is furnished with projecting bristly hairs, which are so 

 sensitive that they give immediate warning to the 

 animal of the approach of any insect or other object 

 which might injure the eye, and he naturally closes 

 the eyelid instantaneously. Ignorant grooms some- 

 times denude horses of these admirable premonitory 

 feelers. It will thus be seen that these muscles are 

 admirable substitutes for the want of hands, in pro- 

 tecting the eyes against the intrusion of things that 

 would injure them. 



These muscles perform another important office in 

 altering the focus of the eye to accommodate itself 

 to the examination of distant or near objects. 

 (See c and b, fig. 5.) The straight and retractor 

 muscles draw back the eye, and forces it upon the 

 substance, and thus in a slight degree flattens it, 

 brings it nearer the retina or mirror, and adapts the 

 eye to the observation of distant objects. 



But as these muscles are chiefly employed in 

 supporting the weight of the eye, they might not 

 have power to turn it so quickly and to such an 



