THE HEAD AND NECK. 49 



however, that this appearance be not prodaced 

 by the reflection of some external body opposed 

 to the eye. A white hat, or neckcloth, or a white 

 wall, for example, would produce an appearance 

 which a non-professional man might very readily 

 mistake for disease. To prevent such a blunder, 

 place the crown of your hat (if a black one) op- 

 posite the eye, and observe if the white mark 

 disappears, which it will, if merely a reflection. 



Cataract, in all its stages, renders a horse un- 

 sound. Even when very small, vision is imper- 

 fect, and the horse is very apt to shy. But the 

 worst of it is, it goes on, in nine cases out of ten, 

 till total blindness is the result : and it requires 

 no great strength of reasoning to show, that a 

 blind horse is not so useful as a perfect one. 

 When the horse is destined to work with a com- 

 panion, as in a stage-coach, where the road is 

 clear, and the work done by day, a blind eye is 

 beyond comparison, a less evil than a perma- 

 nently lame leg. But ahorse blind of both eyes 

 is almost useless as a roadster, totally so as a 

 hunter, and all but so for a carrier's cart. So 

 that it will depend upon the price asked for the 

 animal, and the work he is wanted for, whether 



