— S06 — 



objects with each eye, which peculiarity accounts for the shying 

 and starting, when one eye is imperfect or diseased. If one eye 

 only be altogether destroyed, the horse will not shy or start, but 

 will be a useful animal. This is the reason why cataract on the 

 eye of a horse had better be let alone, as any imperfect sight will 

 make the horse dangerous to drive, objects being seen in a dis- 

 torted form. Better the eye to be completely destroyed than par- 

 tially so. 



(1.) Amaurosis. — ^This is the same disease that Milton was 

 affected with, and was called by him " drop serene." It is a com- 

 plete or partial blindness from loss of sensation, or feeling of the 

 optic nerve. 



Symptoms. This is the most serious disease affecting the eye of 

 either man or horse, and is ushered in by weeping and partial 

 closure of the eyelids. A thin film or scum will soon be observed 

 to spread over the whole of the front of the eye. This condition 

 will pass off for a week or two, and then return with increased 

 violence until the sight will be entirely destroyed. Spots will be 

 seen between each attack, deep in the eye, gradually increasing in 

 size, till the nerve of sight is totally destroyed. 



Causes. Inflammation affecting the brain, tumors, or bone press- 

 ing upon the optic nerve. 



Treatment. Doubtful of cure. Small doses of strychnine may be 

 tried to restore the sensibility of the optic nerve, or colchicum may 

 be used. (See Medicine.) 



Observe. There are many horses with extremely flat foreheads, 

 the bones seemingly pressing upon the lower portion of the brain, 

 just where the optic nerve is given out to the eyes. These flat- 

 headed (that is in front of the head) horses, I have observed to go 

 blind about the seventh year of their age. Blindness arising from 

 such a cause, may justly be laid at the door of hereditary causes. 

 Breeding from blind mares should, therefore, be, as a rule, avoided. 

 If a mare from accident becomes blind, there are no scientific 

 reasons why she should not be used for breeding purposes. What 

 is to be observed is, not to breed from a mare that has a very flat 

 forehead and has not gone blind from accident or injury to the eye. 



(2.) Floating Spots in the Eye. — Sometimes dark cloudy spots 

 or specks will be seen floating in the eye, more or less naoyable, 



