132 THE EYE 



its removal, under the impression that it was a disease, 

 and thus the wretched horse was barbarously tortured 

 and deprived of that protection to its sight which was 

 most essential ; whereas the application of some 

 cooling lotion would have speedily reduced the inflam- 

 mation and consequent thickening of the membrane. 



When the eye of a horse is too prominent, or, on the 

 other hand, too small and flat, the rays of light falling 

 upon it are apt to be too convergent in the one case, or 

 not sufficiently so in the other, and the sight is conse- 

 quently imperfect. Hence horses whose eyes are so 

 formed are apt to shy. 



The eye should be perfectly transparent ; any 

 cloudiness is indicative of disease. The membrane 

 which covers the eye is very firm and tough, and can 

 with difficulty be pierced, even with a sharp instru- 

 ment. 



In purchasing a horse the greatest care in examining 

 the sight is necessary. In order that the examination 

 may be more fully carried out, it is necessary to back 

 the horse into the doorway of a stable, and to inspect 

 the eye both from the front and back. The better 

 plan is to remove the horse to a darkened stable and 

 to make the examination by means of a candle, when 

 any opacity which may exist is more easily discernible. 

 If any such is visible, it may be concluded that the eye 

 has been subject to inflammation. It is well to re- 

 member that any white or gray objects, either on the 

 dress of the examiner or in the vicinity of the horse, 

 will be reflected in the eye, and so may serve to mis- 

 lead a novice who may attempt to make experiment 

 for himself. 



It may be well here to remark that the heat and 



