DISEASES OF THE EYE. 173 



although the J had gone too far for this, we are satisfied that 

 partial sight was prolonged at least two years by the treat- 

 ment applied to them. His history, when we succeeded in 

 learning it fully, proved to be as follows : He was very fast, 

 and had been trotted on time for a wager. He fell into the 

 hands of a wild, reckless young man, who often forced him 

 to his utmost speed, utterly regardless of consequences. Al- 

 most daily he was overheated, and when taken back to the 

 stable, with his blood at fever heat, was regularly fed on 

 corn. At other times, after these hard drives, he was left to 

 stand in the rain or cold, for hours together, without shelter 

 of any kind. After three years of such treatment, his eyes 

 betrayed signs of weakness, and at intervals he became en- 

 tirely blind. Was it any wonder ? 



A nearly similar history might be traced in, well-nigh 

 every case of this kind. Different horses evidently possess 

 the ability to withstand the influence of such abuse, in very 

 different degrees. In the vast majority of cases, however, 

 the farmer may rest assured that bad eyes are the fruit of 

 previous bad management. 



GENERAL TREATMENT OF DISEASED EYES. 



Predisposition to disease seems often to exist in the eyes 

 of some horses. When not the result of injuries of the parts, 

 this generally arises from the presence of fever in the system, 

 or from some deep-rooted and chronic affection. To be of 

 any benefit in such cases, remedies must eilter the blood, and 

 radically change the animal's entire condition. Alteratives, 

 though very useful, do not seem to act so readily and power- 

 fully upon the system of the horse as on that of the human 

 being. More vigorous measures must be adopted, in order 

 to secure the same ends. 



In the case under consideration, bleeding will be of most 

 essential service. Three pints of blood may be taken from 

 the neck vein, every ten days, for two months, or more than 

 this, if the progress of the case renders it advisable. As 

 to medicines, sulphur is the great alterative in treating the 



