Sbo. 8.] 



HORSES— IMPERFECT VISION. 



Ill 



clotli stretched over the end of the horn, apply it four times upon or over 

 the region of the brain, each time filling the horn with the hoiling mnsli, 

 which will blister the skin. In connection with this, it is necessar}'^ to burn 

 rags wet with spirits of "turpentine under the liorse's nose until jou produce 

 a free discharge. You &-liould also bleed freely from the neck, and give one 

 pint of linseed-oil as a purge. 



160. How to Dftoct Imprrrect Visiou or Blindness in Horses. — You may 

 have good grounds for suspicion of imperfect vision when the horse moves 

 his cars in a constant and rapid motion, directing them in quick succession 

 to every quarter from whence the least sound proceeds. Also if his action is 

 lofty and faltering, and he lifts up his feet and replaces them on the ground 

 as if stepping over some obstacle, when there is actually nothing to impede 

 his free progression, notwithstanding these symptoms would be suflicicat to 

 create suspicion, there are other causes by which similar symptoms would 

 appear in horses. If a horse with perfect eyes were led from a dark stable 

 into the sunshine, the sudden contraction of the pujnl of his eye would 

 render it inq)ossiblo, for a few moments, for him to see but very indistinctly ; 

 hence symptoms of \incertainty in his movements, until the pupil becomes 

 steady after the sudden contraction. The dilating and contracting of the 

 pupil furnish means of ascertaining Mhctlier blindness exists in one eye or 

 both, as this pupil varies in size according to the degree of light which is 

 brought to bear ujion it. In a dark stable the ]nipil is expanded, so that » 

 greater portion of light falls iqion the cornea ; but if the horse is led to llic 

 door of the stable, the pupil will contract bo as to exclude more light than 

 could be endured, and if suddenly exposed to the sun, the ajierturc will be 

 all but closed; therefore carefully notice the eyes, whether they contract or 

 expand equally by the increase and decrease of the light. If the horse 

 should be examined in the open air, notice whether both pupils arc of ex- 

 actl}' the same size. After this, carefully place the hand, so as not to alarm 

 the horse, over each eye, to shade ofi' the light, and hold it there for a shor". 

 time, noticing the extent to which the pujiil dilates ; then ])ass the hand 

 over the other eye, and ascertain whether it also dilates to the same extent, 

 and if still it be uncertain, place both hands in the positions of shades over 

 both the eyes of the horse, and you will at once perceive wliether they are 

 perfect, and if not, which of the two is inqierfect. 



Nothing tends more to injure the eyes of a horse than dark or badly venti- 

 lated stables. Attention to the lighting, draining, and ventilation of horse 

 stables is an imperative duty. There are thousands of stables in which the 

 door is the only aiierturc for the ingi-css or egress of pure air, and even this 

 is in most instances closed, both when the horse is at rest, or at work or ex- 

 ercise; thus he has. while in the stable, to constantly breathe vitiated air. 



101. Itcmril.v for (Jails on Horses. — Use whisky, saturated with alum, 

 to wash the parts liable to chafe, which fends to harden the skin and pre- 

 vents its rubbing off. For galls already formed, the following receipt for a 

 salve is good ; so it is for human flesh-sores. 



