RESEARCHES INTO THE CAUSES OF BLINDNESS. 349 
of such infinite injury to every breeder and proprietor of horses, by 
destroying the fruits of his care and anxiety. 
First : The horses in the department of the Moselle, or in that 
portion of it comprising the district of Sarreguemines, and border- 
ing on Prussia, towards Bouley and Thionville, consist chiefly of 
two breeds. The first and most ancient, according to some authors, 
owes its origin to the Tartarian horse, introduced by the Dukes of 
Lorraine, towards the close of the sixteenth century and during 
the wars between Germany and Turkey. In the reigns of Leopold 
and Stanislaus, this breed attained the height of its excellence. 
Characteristics . — The height variable — form angular — bony 
system much developed in comparison with the muscular parts— 
head small and short — agreeable expression of countenance — eyes 
brilliant and well placed — orbital arches projecting — forehead large 
and flat — the hair of the forelock and mane long and silky — the 
chest narrow — neck slender — withers dry and of the usual height — 
back slightly projecting — croup prominent and hanging down a 
little — shoulders near together — sides flat, rather close behind — in 
general badly limbed — foot good and slightly turned outwards — • 
hoof hard and firm — muscles of the fore-arm very apparent — arti- 
culations well developed. 
These horses resemble the ass in their gravity, longevity, power 
of endurance, and capability of feeding on any thing. Notwith- 
standing the hard heavy work they go through, they seldom have 
windgalls or bony enlargements. Slender, light, vigorous, and full 
of energy, they would make excellent light cavalry horses if they 
were more carefully groomed. 
The second breed of horses is produced by a cross between the 
mares common to the country and stallions from Ardenne and Bel- 
gium. These mares, if we may place any dependence on the as- 
sertions of the breeders, were chiefly obtained from regiments of 
artillery, that were disbanded at the close of the wars between 
the republic and the empire. Whatever their origin may have 
been, this breed, when viewed in its natural state, presents the 
following characteristics: — Head large and short — ears low — 
forehead flat or depressed — body round — chest short and narrow, 
considering the size of the animal — withers rather low — back 
straight — loins long and wide — haunches projecting — croup de- 
pending — belly large — sides flat — muscles of the limbs rather 
thin — articulations small — cannons long — tendons not visible — 
hind quarters near together — feet turned outwards, and horn rather 
soft. 
The eyes of these horses are small, covered, dull, and greatly 
resembling those of the Belgic horses that annually pass through 
this country, and from which they derive this peculiarity. It 
VOL. XVIII. 3 B 
