CHAPTER Xlt. 



DISEASES OP THE EYE. 



I. IfATURALLY WKAK KYBS. II. SORK BYE-LIDS. III. MOON EYKS. TV. CATARACT. 



V. INFLAMMATION OF THE HAW, OR HOOKS, VI. DIMNBSS OF VISION. VII. 



WORMS IN THE KYE. VTH. PURULENT OPHTHALMY. IX. FUNGOID TUMORS IN THB 



SUBSTANCE OP THE BYE. "X. IMPEDIMENT IN THE LACHBYMAI. DUOT.— — XI. OUTTA 



SERENA. ' 



I. Naturally Weak Eyes. 



Very many persons, otherwise well informed, when from any cause the 

 eyes of horses become weak, inflamed, watery, or drop tears, suppose the 

 cause to be from a natural weakness of the sight. So "blind teeth" are 

 supposed to cause serious trouble, and even blindness in horses. Nothing 

 could be further from the truth. It is exceedingly rare that horses have 

 naturally weak eyes ; it can almost always be traced to some local cause. 

 Thus, watering of the eyes is caused by a stoppage of the lachrymal 

 ducts leading from the eyes into the nostrils, the natural channels for 

 carrying off the superabundant moisture of the eye. Inflammation of 

 the eyes is not uncommon from a turning in of the eye-lashes. The 

 remedy is to snip them off with the scissors. 



"Blind teeth," or "wolf teeth," as the immature supernumerary 

 tushes are called, do no injury whatever. If it is feared they may, it is 

 easy to take them out with a pair of forceps, or to knock them out with 

 a punch and hammer. 



Occasionally a supernumerary tooth may be found growing in the 

 upper jaw, between the first and second teeth, and lapping over both of 

 them. This is considered by many persons as producing inflammation of 

 the eyes. It is true that if pain results, the eyes may be affected by 

 sympathy. This tooth should always be removed, and may be done with 

 a strong pair of forceps. It may cause distress from pain in the jaw; 



nothing more. 



426 



