SPECIFIC OPHTHALMIA. 53 
the eye, red and swollen; this substance it was once common for farriers 
to excise, under a foolish notion of removing the cause of the disorder. 
The use of the cartilago nictitans in the healthy eye will now be 
explained. Let the reader inspect any of the illustrations to this article ; 
he will find the outer corner represented as being much higher than the 
inner corner of the eye, where the active little body resides. Under the 
upper lid, near to the outer corner, is situated the lachrymal gland, which 
secretes the water or tears of the eye. 
Suppose any substance “gets into the eye;” being between two layers 
of conjunctiva, it creates much anguish, it provokes constant motion 
of the lid, which in its turn causes the lachrymal gland to pour forth its 
secretion. Liquid flowing over a smooth globe of course gravitates ; 
the substance “in the eye” is thus partly washed and partly pushed 
toward the inner corner. 
Now, the base of the cartilago nictitans rests upon the fat at the back 
of the eye. Pain causes the globe to be retracted by spasmodic jerks; 
adipose matter cannot be compressed, and it is therefore driven forward 
every time the muscles act. The fat carries with it the cartilago nictitans, 
and the edge of the body being very fine and lying close to the globe, 
shovels up any foreign substance that may be within its reach, to place 
it upon the rounded development at the inner corner of the eye. Still 
may the reader inquire, if the cartilago nictitans is covered with con- 
junctival membrane, and the inner corner of the eye is enveloped in the 
same, does not the foreign substance occasion pain to these as it did to 
the globe of the eye? No; it was just hinted that conjunctiva is not 
sensitive except two layers of the membrane are together, as the ball 
and the inner surface of the eyelid. The haw, therefore, has no sensa- 
tion upon its external surface, neither has the inner corner of the eye, 
whence all foreign bodies are quickly washed by the overflow of tears. 
Farriers, however, are not an extinct race; many of the fraternity 
still exist, still practice, and are, it is to be feared, very little improved. 
Should one of these gentlemen offer to cure specific ophthalmia, it is 
hoped the owner, after the foregoing explanation, will not allow the 
“haw” to be excised. 
Let every man treat the animals over which he is given authority with 
kindness, as temporary visitors with himself upon earth, and fellow- 
inhabitants of a striving world. Let him look around him; behold the 
owner of a coveted and highly-prized racer to-day, in a week reduced to 
the possessor of a blind and wretched jade; then ask himself what kind 
of property that is to boast of, which may be deteriorated or taken from 
him without his sanction? Having answered that question, let him 
inquire whether it is better to propitiate the higher being by showing 
