92 
SHY HORSES. 
Mr. Editor; 
SEEING a gentleman thrown from a horse that started from 
something in the road, led me to reflect on the subject of sAy 
horses. I have often thought horses shy and start in conse¬ 
quence of some imperfection in vision, and not from obstinacy 
or perverseness, as grooms and jockeys affirm ; and that the 
failing frequently consists in the prominency of the globe of the 
eye—in ar^atomical language, in the convexity beyond certain 
prescribed limits of the transparent eorma. We all know that 
persons who are near-sighted frequently (in twilight particu¬ 
larly) start and stop, and imagine they are running against ob¬ 
jects, when in reality there is nothing in their way. If this be 
the nature of the case, a question arises, how is it to be reme¬ 
died ? The obvious reply is, by lessening the prominency—ren¬ 
dering the transparent cornea a nearer approach to a flat surface. 
Then comes another question, how is this to be accomplished ? 
An idea has struck me (perhaps a very improper and absurd 
one) that it maybe effected by letting out the aqueous humour; 
the cicatrix afterwards formed would certainly tend to lessen 
the convexity of the globe, and probably thereby render the 
animal less myoptical. Of course, such an experiment would 
only be had recourse to in extreme cases. After the human 
eye has been the subject of operation for cataract, either ex¬ 
traction or depression, the globe becomes invariably ffattened in 
consequence, and the patient is necessitated to wear very convex 
glasses: but I write for information, not to instruct, and shall 
feel obliged by any of your correspondents communicating their 
opinions on the subject. 
However, let the evil arise from whatever source it may, I am 
convinced that using force and coercion, spurring and whipping, 
to get the animal to approach the object of alarm, is as absurd 
as cruel: the idea that it arises from obstinacy in the animal 
can only spring from ignorance. Lenient usage, coaxing, I 
should think' much more likely to succeed; although, I appre¬ 
hend, I shall hot induce grooms and stable-boys to come into my 
way of thinking. 
