EXAMINATION OF HORSES 



on quickly uncovering and observing the affected eye, 

 the impaired movement of the iris may be seen. Often 

 it happens that the iris has been adherent to the lens, 

 and the adhesions have given way and liberated the 

 iris. When this is so, we may generally see bits of iris 

 adherent to the lens, and the pupil ragged in that 

 locality, and showing evidence of being torn. The 

 tension of the two eyes is also altered after a severe 

 ophthalmia. To try the tension, rest the three last 

 fingers of both hands upon the eyebrow, and then 

 press your index fingers alternately upon the globe of 

 the eye — covered by the upper lid, of course — and 

 compare the resistance of the two eyes. The first 

 healthy pair of eyes you come across do this, and 

 once feel the tension effectually, and you are not likely 

 to ever forget it. This knowledge of the feel of normal 

 tension is quite necessary, because it may happen that 

 you come across both eyes of the same horse with 

 abnormal hardness or softness ; but this is seldom the 

 case. What commonly happens — probably in nineteen 

 cases out of twenty — is that one eye only is showing 

 signs of a previous ophthalmia, and you have the other 

 eye to compare it with. But, as I have before said, 

 when once you feel the tension of a sound eye, you 

 never forget the peculiar elastic feeling of resistance 

 which it gives. 



