T2 THE STUD. 



derlng on a sound price, — meaning the price 

 that particular horse would be worth if sound, 

 which most decidedly one in the state I have 

 mentioned is not or ever will be. 



There is a fluctuating state of the eyes, in old 

 veterinary phrase, described as " moon-blind ; " 

 and I doubt not but many country horse doctors 

 (not veterinary surgeons) would swear by that 

 planet, that her influence brings about this fluc- 

 tuation of sight. I conceive a more rational way 

 of accountins; for such horses seeino; well at one 

 time, and being nearly blind at another, is the 

 effect of feeding, work, and air, each of which 

 will effect certain states of the visionary organs. 

 I knew a mare that would leave her stable to 

 meet hounds, seeing, as far as could be ascer- 

 tained to be the case, perfectly well, but would 

 often return, after a severe run, all but stone 

 blind. Xow, I am quite satisfied, the moon was 

 as innocent of this mare's blindness as of the 

 death of the fox. The fact, no doubt, was, the 

 exertion caused a suffusion of blood as regards the 

 delicate vessels appertaining to the eye, some of 

 which became highly inflamed or perhaps rup- 

 tured from distention. In corroboration of the 

 opinion I venture to give, this same mare was 

 afterwards put to moderate harness work, and at 

 this she had no returns of temporary blindness. 



Cataract is a complaint very common to the 



