TIIE EYE. » 63 



the examiner close to the cheek of the horse, under and behind 

 the eye. The latter method of looking through the cornea is 

 the most satisfactory, so far as the transparency of that part of 

 the eye is concerned. During this exainination the horse should 

 not be in the open air, but in the stable standing in the door- 

 way and a little within the door. If any small, faint, whitish 

 lines appear to cross the cornea, or spread over any part of it, 

 they are assuredly the remains of previous inflammation ; or, 

 although the centre and bulk of the cornea should be perfectly 

 clear, yet if around the edge of it, where it unites with the 

 sclerotica, there should be a narrow ring or circle of haziness, 

 the conclusion is equally true, that the inflammation occurred at 

 a more distant period. Whether however the inflammation has 

 lately existed, or several weeks or months have elapsed since it 

 was subdued, it is too likely to recur. 



There is one caution to be added. The cornea in its natural 

 state is not only a beautiful transparent structure, but it reflects, 

 even in proportion to its transparency, many of the rays which 

 fall upon it; and if there is a white object immediately before 

 the eye, as a light waistcoat, or much display of a white neck- 

 cloth, the reflection may puzzle an experienced observer, and has 

 misled many a careless one. The coat should be buttoned up, 

 and the white cravat carefully concealed. 



Within the sclerotica, and connected with it by innumerable 

 minute fibres and vessels, is the choroid coat, I. It is a very 

 delicate membrane, and extends over the whole of the internal 

 part of the eye, from the optic nerve to the cornea. It secretes 

 a dark-colored substance or paint, by which it is covered ; the 

 intention of which, like the inside of our telescopes and micro- 

 scopes, is probably to absorb any wandering rays of light which 

 might dazzle and confuse the vision. The different manner in 

 which this colored matter is distributed in the horse's eye from 

 that of the human being, and its difierent color, render the sight 

 of the former less strong during the day, but much more acute 

 in the night. 



Perfectly white and cream-colored horses have a peculiar ap- 

 pearance of the eyes. The pupil is red instead of black. It is 

 the choroid coat itself which we see in them ; and the red ap- 

 pearance is caused by the numerous blood-vessels wliich are 

 ^bund on every part of that coat. 



Tracing the choroides towards the fore-part of the eye, we 

 perceive that it is reflected from the side to the edge of the lens, 

 n, and has the appearance of several plaits or folds. They are 

 Actually foldings of the membrane. They prevent the passage 

 of any rays of light on the outside of the lens, and which, pro- 

 ceeding forward in various directions, and uncondensed by the 



