■if • 

 526 AMEKICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



rial injury of a permanent nature. Especially is there danger 

 of its destroying the sight or hearing of the poor creature. 

 "We have been the unwilling spectator of several cases of 

 beating over the head, until the water ran from the horse's 

 eyes ; and then, within a few months subsequently ,'have seen 

 the eyes of the same horse become milky, the case terminat- 

 ing presently in confirmed moon-blindness, as it is incor- 

 rectly called. The instances of stupid, doltish horses re- 

 duced to this condition by such brutal violence are not a 

 few. The greatest misfortune, oftentimes, is, that the owner 

 is kept in ignorance of what has transpired. He soon dis- 

 covers the sad effects of the brutality, but never learns the 

 true cause. 



FRACTURE OP THE NASAL BONES. 



It IS strange how unobservant some men are in regard to 

 their horses. We have seen the bones of the nose fractured 

 so badly as quite to disfigure the animal, and all the while 

 the owner seemed wholly ignorant that any thing was 

 wrong. These cases generally get well of themselves, un- 

 less the bones are bent inward considerably, in which case 

 it will require the instruments of the surgeon to replace 

 them. If they protrude outward, however, tliey may be re- 

 stored to their proper position by the pressure of the hand. 

 An application of hot salt water will remove much of the 

 fever and soreness. 



FRACTURE OF THE RIBS. 



The ribs are sometimes broken by severe falls upon th« 

 side, or against some hard, upright object, as a post or rock. 

 These cases are rare, however, and are never discovered, 

 perhaps, unless accompanied by vertebral fracture. A few 

 cases are recorded by English veterinarians. I^othing can 

 be done for them, except to give the horse rest, when, if not 

 injured internally, he may get well. If the locality of the 

 fracture can be discovered, the parts should be well bathed 

 with hot salt water, having a strong infusion of golden seal. 



