HOW HORSES' EYES ARE INJURED.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2154, 20 January 1881, Page 4

HOW HORSES' EYES ARE INJURED.

It has been observed (writes the " New York Weekly Tribune ") that of all domestic animals the horse is the most afflicted with diseases of the eye. Some of these ailments are hereditary and from, unknown causes, others —and these are of painful frequency—aro not inherited, and their origin may bo readily traced. Of this latter class of causes may be mentioned—insufficient and bad arrangement of light in stables ; blinkers ; high racks for feeding; ammonia fumes in stalls; and tho whip! Although the eye of the horse is well adapted for seeing at night, yet he is not a nocturnal animal, therefore the stable should havo daylight freely admitted to it. A dimly-lighted stable imposes on the horse sudden changing from twilight to broad sunlight, which cannot fail to weaken the sight. If the windows are arranged on one side or the other of a stall, the horse's head will be direoted mostly to the side from whioh the light comes ; one eye will be more in the shad© than the other, consequently both eyes will be strained from being exposed to unoqual light. If the windows be directly in front of the stall a glare of light is directed toward the eyes with a blinding effeot, which is very injurious. Probably the best arrangement for lighting stables is by means of a skylight or windows placed near the ceiling. Much has been said against blinkers, yet their use continues to a considerable extent. If the eyes of the horse, like those of man, were directed forward, blinkers might prove uncomfortable but not injurious. The range of vision in the horse is much groater than in man; _by limiting this range of vision and allowing it a forward direction only—which is not according to nature—the muscles of the eyes become strained and their strength impaired. Is it not reasonable to suppose that the timid, nervous horse, that starts at every unusual sight or sound, would be inspired with more confidence if allowed to see all there was to be seen than if straining the eyes painfully to see objects terrible to him just back of the blinkers ? The position a horse's head has to assume when feeding from a high rack is the one most favorable for chaff or other hurtful matter from the hay to fall into the eyes. The most serious injury commonly arising from this cause is from the beards of grain. The sharp little hooks or prickles on these attach themselves to the eye in such a way that the water from the tear gland cannot wash out the beards ; inflimmation follows, and even the most judicious treatment cannot always save the eye. Probably every one is familiar with the effects of a aniff from grandma's bottle of hartshorn or smelling salts, which is only ammonia under other names, and can imagine how unendurable a continued application of the fumes would be. Of course the ammonia fumes arising in even a very badly kept stable would not be so concentrated as those from the salts, yet they are of sufficient strength to soriously injure the sensitive and delicately organised eye of the horse. Wellconstructed floors, good management and oleanliness are perfect remedies for this enemy. Of all the causes of blindness in our noble, docile, useful friends, none prick us so sharply with our unworthiness to possess such animals as when it is caused by the use of the whip. No excuse can be made for such accidents, whether done in wanton carelessness or by cruel intent.