202 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



muscle, d d^ called the retractor, is added ; it arises from 

 the edge of the foramen, through which the optic-nerve 

 enters the orbit. The use of this muscle is to support the 

 eye generally, or when it is suddenly called into great 

 action, and aided by the straight muscles, it draws the eye 

 back out of the reach of danger, and in the act of drawing 

 it back it forces the haw to protrude in the manner already 

 described, as an additional defence. The cornea, i, is the 

 only visible part of the eyeball of a horse, or at least it 

 should be ; and it is said that where much white is seen, 

 that it is an indication of bad temper. The pupil, h, in 

 the horse dijQfers in form from that of all other animals. 

 It is of an elongated, oblong, ovate form, and placed trans- 

 versely, as represented in fig. 4, plate iii. 



The eye is a very important organ in the horse. It ought 

 to be large and rather prominent ; the eyelid should be fine 

 and thin. This thinness is for the purpose of preventing 

 pressure, and at the same time to give more extensive and 

 easy motion. 



The horse is devoid of eyebrows, and the eyelashes are 

 singularly arranged. The rows of hairs are longest and 

 most numerous on the upper lid, and especially towards the 

 outer or temporal corner, because the light falls on the eye 

 from above ; and as he stands, especially when he is grazing, 

 as well as from the lateral situation of the eyes, the greater 

 portion of the light, the attacks of insects, and the trick- 

 ling down of moisture, is chiefly from the outside. To- 

 wards the inner corner of the eye there are hardly any 

 eyelashes, because there is little or no danger from below, 

 and as little light is thrown from below, the eyelashes are 

 thin and short. While horses are grazing, insects may find 

 their way to the eye towards the inner angle, the principal 

 or only hair is found on the lower lid. All of which most 



