180 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



elastic haw returns to its place, like a piece of well-stretched 

 India-rubber when one lets go of it. 



Any one who will note the beautiful play of this tendon, 

 when any thing approaches too near the eye, can but admire 

 the wisdom and kindness of the Creator in providing this 

 important and delicate organ with a means of protection so 

 admirably adapted to its purpose. Its play may best be seen 

 by trying to pull open the lids, or to touch the end of the 

 finger to the eye-ball. 



Inflammation of the haw usually proceeds from fever and 

 inflammation of the other parts of the eye, accompanied by 

 swelling. Continued inflammation gives the cartilaginous 

 haw a hard, bony consistency, which it did not before possess ; 

 and, in consequence of its own swelling and that of the parts 

 which press upon it, it protrudes from its place under the 

 lids into the corner of the eye, in the form of a large, whitish 

 lump, much to the annoyance of the horse, and presenting a 

 very unsightly appearance. It is often bent out of shape, 

 and is crooked more than is natural. The removal of the 

 haw, when it is in this hardened, enlarged condition, forms 

 what farmers call " cutting for bone hooks." The lump has 

 a fatty appearance, also, since the haw, like the adjacent 

 parts, is supplied with a share of adipose matter. Hence the 

 term "fatty hooks." 



A foolish and barbarous practice, greatly in vogue in some 

 sections, removes these bony, fatty lumps with the knife. 

 One fact is patent in regard to this treatment: the little 

 appendage which the Creator has wisely given to the eye, 

 for its protection and comfort, is forever destroyed. In all 

 cases, the eye is greatly impaired, and sometimes nearly 

 ruined. The custom is ignorant and barbarous. It must be 

 so denounced by every person of common sense who knows 

 what the haw was given the horse for, and should not be 

 tolerated anywhere. If those who practice it were compelled 

 to travel all day through the heat and diist, without any 

 means of protecting the eye from the glare of the sun, or 

 the irritation of the gritty particles of dust, they would 



