168 On the Haws or Hooks, in Horses > 



stopped every crevice in the stable, through which air 

 could be admitted ; and fed unsparingly, contrary to 

 my frequent injunctions. The consequences were, 

 that several of my horses were seized with violent fe- 

 vers. These appeared with the usual symptoms, and 

 particularly in morbid affections of the eyes. The 

 youngest horse was the most affected. On this account, 

 horses of three to seven years old, are always in the 

 most danger, as diseases of the eyes, in such horses, 

 most frequently occur. It is not uncommon for young 

 horses, especially if pampered, to be afflicted with ear- 

 ly blindness. The loss of one eye is frequent ; and in 

 this case, that remaining is, generally, the stronger for 

 the privation. Both eyes, however, often are lost. 

 Pampering and over-working young horses should be 

 carefully avoided. My servant knew, as he believed, 

 effectual remedies* '' My horses had the hooks,'^'* as the 

 haws are vulgarly denominated. — ** These must be cut 

 out of the eyes." But, before I was acquainted with 

 the subject, in my early life, I had a capital young 

 horse, sacrificed to this mistaken and ruinous operation. 

 Ignorant quacks do not know, that the horse has a 

 membrane, peculiar to this animal ; which is at plea- 

 sure, drawn over the eye, by means of a muscle with 

 which he can draw the eye into the socket. The en- 

 largement of this, by a fever, produces the appearance, 

 which, in the jockey slang, is called the Hooks. Re- 

 duce the fever, by depleting remedies, such as bleed- 

 ing plentifully, purging, &c. and the hooks disappear; 

 — i. e. the membrane is restored ^o its natural size and 

 office ; which is, to clear the eye from insects, dust, 

 and other pests inserting tliem selves, or accidentally 



