In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 193 



certain the animal has had inflammation in that 

 portion of the eye ; but should the centre part of the 

 cornea be perfectly transparent, and yet the margin of 

 it where it unites with the sclerotica have a hazy ring, 

 it may be concluded that this has been occasioned by 

 recent inflammation, and consequently the eye is pre- 

 disposed to a return of it. During the operation of 

 thus inspecting the eye, mind that no white or pale- 

 coloured object be near, as its form and great trans- 

 parency are very likely to reflect these rays, and 

 deceive the person making the examination. Atten- 

 tion to the dilation and contraction of the pupil will 

 materially aid a person in the detection of blindness 

 or otherwise. When the cornea and crystalline lens 

 are quite transparent, with the retina paralysed and of 

 course not liable to be affected with the light, it is 

 extremely difficult to detect blindness either in one or 

 both eyes. It generally happens that when a horse is 

 totally blind, * he has a constant and rapid motion 

 with its ears, it also lifts its feet high as if some 

 obstacle presented itself, and puts its feet down 

 with cautious uncertainty. Do not forget to pay 

 particular attention to the pupil of both eyes, and 

 notice if they are both of a size while it is in the stable, 

 and as it approaches the door observe whether both 

 pupils contract equally as tbey are subjected to a 

 stronger light. If, however, the horse is in a fair or at a 

 distance from a stable, place the crown of a black hat 

 over the eye, and then observe after it has obscured it 

 from the light for a little while whether the pupils con- 

 tract. Repeat the experiment on both eyes, and you will 

 M 



