352 RESEARCHES INTO THE CAUSES OF BLINDNESS. 
Having concluded this, by no means exaggerated, account of the 
breeding and rearing of the horse in the district of Sarreguemines 
and its neighbourhood, we will proceed to take a rapid survey of 
its topography. 
Thirdly : The district of Sarreguemines (Moselle) terminates the 
department on the east. It is bordered on one side by Rhinish 
Prussia and Bavaria, and on the other by the lower Rhine, the 
department of Meurthe, and the district of Metz. The soil is ir- 
regular, hilly, and variously composed. There is a chain of moun- 
tains or hills, of a greater or less height, running through the greater 
part of it, and most of these are crowned with magnificent forests, 
here and there intersected with either rich and fertile valleys or 
deep rugged gorges formed by the fall of rapid torrents that have 
rendered the declivities sterile and rough. In the plains the ground 
is solid, and for the most part productive ; but sandy soils are oc- 
casionally met with, on which vegetation is very inactive. 
The climate is damp, the atmosphere foggy or misty, variable, 
and cold. The animals suffer in two ways from this — in its de- 
bilitating influence on their frames, and its pernicious effects on 
vegetation, which grows up weak and poor. 
With the exception of blindness, most of the diseases met with 
there are those of the respiratory organs, the lymphatic system, 
and the cellular tissue. The first-named class are remarkable for 
their periodical appearance. About the time of getting in the fodder 
crops, affections of the bowels are very prevalent. In the human 
being the typhoid fever prevails. 
Fourthly: The actual state of agriculture, at least when con- 
sidered with relation to the breeding and rearing of animals, is far 
from being such as might have been expected from the nature and 
qualities of the soil. The owners of land neglect the artificial 
meadows, and do not devote a sufficient extent of ground to cultiva- 
tion. They have not properly studied the nature and qualities of 
the soil previous to arranging their rotation of crops, and con- 
sequently act without judgment in this matter. 
There are too many crops which exhaust the land, with by no 
means a due proportion of fodder. In a word, grazing and rearing 
cattle are not, as they should be, intimately connected with cultiva- 
tion, but comparatively disregarded, or, at any rate, viewed as 
merely secondary. Where this is the case agriculture can never 
prosper. 
The natural meadows, which are very numerous, are deplorably 
neglected, and, together with their products, may be said to be 
perfectly in a state of nature. Many of these have originally been 
large ponds that have become dry and grass-grown ; but in wet 
seasons they return to their original state. Where this is the case 
