RUPTURED STOMACH OF A HORSE. 
461 
interfere with the natural usefulness of the animal, then it 
may be said he is sound.^’ But if that peculiar formation of 
parts can be proved to exert a powerful influence in the 
carrying on the function of those parts whereby they are ma¬ 
terially impaired, then, I think, it amounts to unsoundness. 
It will be well to consider the causes of shying in the horse. 
Youatt states at page 133: “There is a shying often the 
result of cowardice, or playfulness, or want of work, but at 
other times proving beyond contradiction a defect of sight 
even more dangerous than blindness,—a loss of convexity in 
the eye, lessening the convergency of the rays, and throwing 
the perfect image beyond, and not on, the retina. There is a 
striking difference in the convexity of the cornea of the colt 
and the old horse; and both of them, probably, may shy 
from opposite causes,—the one from a cornea too prominent, 
and the other from being too flat. In the usual examination 
of the horse previously to purchase, sufficient attention is not 
always paid to the convexity of the cornea.” Here, then, it 
will be seen that this acute observer has drawn attention to 
one cause. At pages 433 and 454, Mr. Youatt treats largely 
upon this habit. His remarks, together with those of the 
late John Lawrence and Mr. Castley, seem to lead us to the 
belief that almost all cases of shying are produced by play, 
skittishness, or fear, &c. The anecdote found at page 433 is 
very interesting, but it does not explain anything. I could, 
if time permitted, relate several instances of horses disliking 
to enter a stable. 1 have had personally to superintend the 
getting of them in to their places, and I believed at the time I 
could easily solve the mystery by an examination of the head 
and the eyes. 
{To he continued^ 
\ 
CASE OF RUPTURED STOMACH OF A HORSE. 
By G. Naden, M.R.C.V.S., Speenhamland, Newbury, 
Berks. 
Dear Sirs, —I send you the stomach of a thorough-bred 
horse, “ Attaman,” w'ho came under my care on Saturday 
evening last. It appears that about 6 p.m. the animal had 
all the symptoms of an attack of colic, and an anti-spasmodic 
draught, composed of Sp. ^th. Nit., Tinct. Opii, et 
Solutio Aloes, was given to him by his trainer. The legs 
were also bandaged and hand-rubbed. But as the breathing 
