368 



EXAMINATION OF HORSES AS TO SOUNDNESS 



inner angle of the eye, should be present and free from any abnormal 

 growth or thickening of its investing mucous membrane. A good view 



of it may be obtained by pressing the eye- 

 lid backward under the orbit, as shown in 

 Fig. 594. 



A general examination of the eye itself 

 must now be made, first by comparing the 

 one with the other as to size. Wasting of 

 the eye-ball is a common result of consti- 

 tutional ophthalmia, and is attended with 

 Fig. 593. Recurrent Ophthalmia that angular condition of the upper eyelid 

 Eye showing an angular condition of the referred to above, as well as a more or less 



upper lid the result of a succession of 



attacks of Specific Ophthalmia. SUllken state OI the globe and tCXtural 



alterations within it. 



As to matter of form, the normal condition of the eyes should be full 

 and bold, and describe a regular convexity in front without there being 

 any observable difference between them. 



Eyes too prominent, although per- 

 fectly clear, sometimes result from 

 paralysis of the optic nerve, in which 

 case vision is more or less defective 

 or altogether lost. Undue flatness of 

 the cornea or front of the eye is also 

 a condition in which sight is impaired, 

 and would, like the other defects re- 

 ferred to, constitute unsoundness. 



In order that objects may be 

 clearly visible, the passage of light 

 to the optic nerve should be uninter- 

 rupted by any cloudiness or opacity of 

 the ordinarily transparent structures. 



In this connection it will be neces- 

 sary to examine not only the surface, 

 but also the interior of the eye - 

 the cornea, or surface, for opacities 

 of various forms and densities, and the 

 interior for these and other defects. 



Opacities on the surface are much more serious when in the centre than 

 when near the circumference. They not uncommonly assume the form 

 of pale milky streaks across the eye, such as are inflicted by the lash 

 of a whip, and sometimes so faint as to be of no importance. On the 



a 



Fig. 594. Examination of the Eye (a, the Haw) 



