HORSE—CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 



27 



shy. If opaque or milky lines are traced 

 on its surface, it bespeaks the remains of 

 former inflammation. 



But it is necessary to observe that 

 horses, before they are six years old, 

 have not that transparency in their eyes 

 which they display afterwards, because, 

 while young and growing, the vessels of 

 the eye are full; therefore, before that 

 age, it is not the brilliancy of the eye that 

 denotes its goodness. 



If there is an excess of tears, it denotes 

 debility, and should occasion a more 

 than ordinary scrutiny; in fact, all horses 

 with weeping, dull, cloudy eyes, should 

 be rejected as unsound. 



It may be remarked, as a general rule, 

 that all diseases of the eye are incurable. 

 Have nothing to do with a horse when the 

 slightest trace of disease of the eye is visible. 

 As it is impossible, from a superficial ex- 

 amination, to distinguish between simple 

 ophthalmia and inflammation of the con- 

 junctiva, the cause of which has been a 

 blow, or the introduction of some irritat- 

 ing matter, such as a piece of dirt or hay- 

 seed, which is curable by simple means, 

 and the specific ophthalmia, as spontane- 

 ous affection, which ultimately terminates 

 in cataract and blindness. 



Viewed in front, the depths of the eye 

 should be looked into; then sideways, 

 which will assist in ascertaining the clear- 

 ness and absence of specks on or within 

 its surface. 



Floating in the aqueous humor (which 

 preserves the convexity of the cornea) is 

 the iris, a muscular membrane, whose di- 

 latation and contraction forms an oval 

 aperture, termed the pupil, which varies 

 in size according to the quantity of light 

 which falls upon the eye. 



The iris varies very little in color in 

 the horse, though it bears some analogy 

 to the color of the skin. It is rarely 

 lighter than a hazel, or darker than a 

 brown; except in milk white, cream-col- 

 oied, or pied horses, when it is white, 

 and they are termed wall-eyed. If it is 

 of a pale variegated, cinnamon color, it is 

 good. 



The pupil or aperture of the iris is 

 that horizontal, oblong, blueish opening 

 which admits the light to the posterior 

 chambers of the eye. It is important 

 that the oval shape of the pupil is per- 

 fect, for if any irregularity or unevenness 



is perceived, it is a symptom that the or- 

 gan has received partial injury. In look- 

 ing into the depth of the eye, through 

 the pupil, in a strong light, it should ex- 

 hibit a lively blueishness ; in a moderate 

 light, it should be perfectly transparent; 

 if milky or turbid, it is the remains of 

 former inflammation, which will probably 

 recur. 



In bringing the horse out of the stable 

 to the light, if the pupil is large, it is a 

 bad sign ; by alternately shading and ad- 

 mitting light, if it enlarges and lessens 

 under its stimulus, it is an infallible sign 

 the eye is good. But if the retina is un- 

 movable, the pupil larger than natural, 

 and of one invariable size when shaded 

 or exposed to intense light, though no 

 disorganization is apparent, the eye ap- 

 pearing bright, of a peculiar glossy as- 

 pect, and of a greenish color, the animal 

 is blind from the disease termed " glass- 

 eye " — a palsy of the optic nerve. 



A decided cataract, or opacity of the 

 crystalline lens, or its capsule, is easily 

 detected ; but when very small, they may 

 escape observation. It appears as a 

 cloudy or pearly white substance within 

 the pupil towards the bottom of the eye. 

 If the pupil be round instead of a flat 

 oval, it is an indication of cataract ; when 

 there is the slightest deep-seated cloudi- 

 ness, the eye should be condemned ; but 

 if there is any white object before it, such 

 as a white hat, neckcloth, waistcoat, or 

 wall, the reflection on the cornea pro- 

 duces a mark, having so much the ap- 

 pearance of a cataract as to have misled 

 many an experienced observer. There- 

 fore, before deciding, hold the crown of 

 a black hat against the eye, and observe 

 at the same time if the mark disappears, 

 which it will, if it is only a reflection. 



If your examination has proved satis- 

 factory, and you decide on purchasing, 

 before you part with your money, learn 

 something of the seller. For should 

 your bargain not turn out as you antici- 

 pate, upon further acquaintance, trial, 

 and second examination, you will know 

 what chance of remedy you have against 

 the vender. 



The horse, if returned, must of course 

 be in the same condition in which he was 

 received, except so far as the disease for 

 which he is returned may have progress- 

 ed in the meantime. 



