HINTS TO THE PURCHASERS OF HORSES. 387 



should proceed to the eye, which is an important part, and re- 

 quires tlie most careful inspection. The most favourable situa- 

 tion for viewino; the eve is at the stable door, or under a shed : 

 for when too much light falls upon the eye, so much is reflected 

 by its cornea, or surface, that it is difficult to see the internal 

 parts. 



The age at which the eyes most frequently become diseased is 

 from five to six ; next to that, from four to five ; sometimes, but 

 not often, it happens after six ; after seven the disease rarely 

 occurs, except from accidents, to which of course they are 

 equally exposed at all ages. In purchasing a horse, therefore, 

 about five years old, it is necessary to be particularly attentive 

 to the state of the eyes. If they appear dull, cloudy, or watery, 

 if the lids appear to be more closed than usual, if the inner 

 corner of the eyelid appear puckered up, and particularly if 

 there be a manifest difference in the appearance of the eyes, 

 they may justly be suspected of unsoundness. 



Having taken a general view of the eye, the pupil, or dark 

 bluish oblong spot in its centre, should be closely and carefully 

 examined ; and if a difference is perceived in the size of the two 

 pupils — if, instead of a dark blue colour, they appear cloudy, 

 or if white specks are seen in them — a diseased state of the organ 

 is indicated. I have often observed, however, that when a small 

 speck has formed in the pupil it does not gradually increase, as 

 by many it is supposed to do ; on the contrary, I have, in many 

 instances, known it remain in the same state for years without 

 causing any material impediment to vision. I should not, 

 therefore, reject a horse simply on account of this defect ; that 

 is, if the eyes appeared perfectly healthy in every other respect, 

 and particularly if the speck was small, nearer the edge than 

 the centre of the pupil, and only in one eye : it would be ad- 

 visable, however, to be certain that the pupils are alike in size, 

 that they become small when the eyes are exposed to a strong 

 li'dit, and enlar2;e ao-ain when the horse is brought into a darker 

 situation. 



When an imperfection is observed in the eye, it is frequently 

 said to arise from a bite, or blow, or from hay seeds Mling into 

 it ; but though the seller should positively affirm this to be tha 

 cause of the imperfection, I should always be inclined to doubt 

 it, because experience has taught me that the diseases of the 

 horse's eye almost always arise from internal causes; that, 

 however trifling in appearance, they are really of a serious 

 nature, and most commonly, even after they have been appa- 

 rently cured, terminate, sooner or later, in blindness. Too 

 much caution, therefore, cannot be observed in examining this 

 important part. 



When the eyes become inflamed from a blow or bite, or from 



c c 2 



