168 THE TONGUE, EYE, AND EARS. [BOOK T. 



The tongue always partakes of the general state 

 of the system : in the horse, it does not afford to 

 the sight so sure a prognostic of the state of the 

 stomach as in the human subject ; but, to the feel, 

 it communicates to us the state of the blood with 

 so much accuracy as demands our assiduous at- 

 tention, in order to acquire, by practice, the most 

 intimate acquaintance with its monitions. This 

 member of the body, in conjunction with the coat, 

 we have always considered the health-gage of our 

 patients. See observations on the "Pulse" at page 

 180, and Grooms Oracle, Index. 



The eye is a most material organ of sense, and 

 is much studied by those who would render them- 

 selves good judges of the general soundness or un- 

 soundness of the horse's constitution. It beams 

 bright and steadily in health, projects most fiery 

 when the animal is most vigorous ; in lassitude it 

 sinks, it blears with a cold, and, under extreme cir- 

 cumstances is extinguished. After a heat, horses 

 full of blood, with foul stomachs, certainly alter in 

 their vision, shy and become troublesome ; and, so 

 sure is the eye the barometer of vigour, that horses 

 got by old sires have the eye more sunken than 

 others, with a greater hollowness over it. 



The ears, by their movements, show the apprehen- 

 sions of the horse, as well as his disposition. When 

 he fears the lash, he turns their cavities backwards. 

 Is he disposed to be resentful, they are laid flat on 

 his poll. Following his companions, or the hounds, 

 or going 1 homewards, the cavitv of the ears turn 



