48 THE HEAD AND NECK. 



The Read and Neck, 



The Eyes, Examination of the eye for catar- 

 act, illustrates what I have just said on the ne- 

 cessity of possessing an anatomical knowledge of 

 parts. Cataract is a deep seated disease of the 

 eye, which often exists in such a trifling degree, 

 as, in many cases, to escape the scrutiny of the 

 most careful veterinarian. At first it is a small 

 white speck, situated at the bottom, not on the 

 transparent surface of the eye ; and this almost 

 invariably increases in size, till it produces com- 

 plete blindness ; and a white ball, spotted with 

 black, is then perceived, occupying a large por- 

 tion of the interior of the eye. Long before 

 total blindness takes place, the disease is visible 

 to the most common observer, and the horse is 

 said to have "Buck eyes." In its earlier stages, 

 it is best observed in the shade, for then the 

 pupil enlarges, and gives you a fuller view of 

 the bottom of the eye ; when it exists, a small 

 milk-white spot is seen, whitest and brightest in 

 the centre, the circumference of which passes 

 gradually into transparency. Care must be taken, 



