THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. '53 



Cataract, 



Is generally the sequent to Specific Opthalmia ; and 

 It were needless to prescribe any cure when such a ter- 

 mination has ensued. Many of the ablest practitioners 

 have tried operation after operation in this case but 

 without effect. The Royal Veterinary College has la- 

 boured most studiously with the same result. 



Simple cataract, as in the human being, does not 

 exist in the horse ; the retractor-muscle draws the eye 

 very deeply into the socket, and with such force, that 

 an operation cannot be performed : and indeed if it 

 were possible to remove the opaque lens, the sight in 

 such a case would still be very partially obstructed ; 

 and it is a well-known fact, that an imperfect vision is 

 useless, and often detrimental to the horse. 



Gutta Serena, 



Is another species of blindness to which the horse is 

 subject, and is likewise known as the Glass Eye ; which 

 name it takes from appearance, being bright and fixed, 

 with the pupil more than usually dilated. It appears 

 to be paralysis of the optic nerve. It is as incurable 

 as cataract. BUstering, bleeding, physicing, and the 

 application of rowels, have been tried in vain. It is 

 ascribed to various causes, as staggers, termination of 

 blood to the head, and affection of the brain. 



Sometimes the haw thickens and projects on the 

 fore- part of the eye ; cooling lotions, with bleeding and 

 physicing, will disperse all danger. This important 

 organ should never be cut out, as some of the old 

 farriers were accustomed to recommend. 



