4 
ODSEllVATlONS ON SOUNDNESS. 
having watched veterinary surgeons themselves putting horses 
through their respective trials. I merely mention these 
things en passant the purpose of showing that my practice 
is not theoretical^ but euiutXy practical. As 1 proceed 1 shall 
take an opportunity of mentioning special cases 1 have been 
called upon to examine. We will now suppose a horse is 
brought to an establisment for the searching eye and hand 
of the veterinary surgeon. The horse is placed in a box or 
stall (by himself, if possible), there to remain for a certain 
time. * This will in some measure depend upon the distance 
and pace the horse has travelled. If, on the one hand, he 
has been brought but a short distance and that distance 
slowly, the examination may be proceeded with at once, if 
convenient; if, on the contrary, the animal has been a con¬ 
siderable time on the road, it will be wise, in most cases, 
that he should remain for an hour or more in a quiescent 
state, the examiner taking an opportunity during this time 
to ascertain if he be either a wind-sucker or crib-biter, and also 
to notice especially his manner of standing—in short, all the 
time the horse is standing, as it were, waiting for the examiner, 
he is in reality under his observation, and the examination 
must be considered to be in progress. When the horse has 
stood sufficiently long he is taken to a window', stable door, 
or shed, that the eyes may be thoroughly inspected. Suf¬ 
ficient care is not taken by the generality of practitioners in 
the examination of the various structures met with in the 
eyes, their attention being merely directed to the question 
as to w hether there is any opacity, such as cataract, or any 
small specks. Very few, I believe, seem to take notice of the 
form or convexity of the eye. As some remarks upon this sub¬ 
ject will appear in their proper place, I w'ill therefore proceed 
to notice the best positions for the examiner to view' the in¬ 
ternal structures of the organ. Take your position opposite 
the eye, so as to look directly through the pupillary opening. 
In this way may be seen the muscular movements of the iris, 
should there be proper and sufficient light. It is impossible 
to make an observation in a strong and bright light, although I 
have heard some people say they can. They may as well 
tell me they can see into one^s drawdng-room when the doors 
and w’indow’-shutters are closed. After having satisfied 
jmurself w ith this view', take a step towards the shoulder and 
look across the cornea. This must be done on both sides, 
i.e. from the outer to the inner canthus, and from the inner 
to the outer canthus. By these means the examiner will be 
fully competent to see all that is required to be known with 
reference to the eye. Eversion of the lid, however, may be 
resorted to when considered necessarv. 
