Nebraska advertiser., 1861-12-05
gE5J18GeIIaue0us.
Blindness among HOrseS-Its Cause


Blindness among Horses Its Cause
This is subject of very general
Importance. 1t has been stated that
blindness is more prevalent among
horses in America than among those
of other countries. IF this is the case
the cause of the evil should be investi-
gated and removed-if possible
without delay. The last number of
the Amerieaa Stock Journal contains
good article on the subject, the
leading ideas of which We have con
densed for our columns. 1t states
that blindness is more prevalent among
horses in Ohio than those of any other
section of country. The cases of
blindness are attributed, in a great
measure, to ouer feeding-the Ohio
horses being VIGOROUSLY fat. 1t is a
common practice in that State to force
the fat upon horses intended for sale,
by stufing them principally with In
dian corn, and keeping them, without
much service, in warm, close stables.
This method of feeding soon fattens a
horse, but at the same time its diges-
tive functions are injured by the treat
ment. 1t is now believed that the
blindness can be traced to a sympa-
thetic relation between disorder of the
digestive organs and the brain, and
that through the latter the optic nerve
becomes diseased and ends in destroy
ing the vision. Blindness is also
transmitted to offspring, and thus an
evil, first originating in disease, al
most becomes a natural defect by
hereditary descent. Errors in feeding
horses, as is well known, also produces
blind staggers, stomach staggers and
organic diseases of the brain there
fore the greatest care should be exer-
cised in feeding them.
In order to prevent the spread of
horse blindness, it is recommended that
whenever an animal shows the least
symptoms of the disease it should be
kept on light diet of hay and oats.
A horse may be maintained in good
condition on II pounds of hay and 5
pounds of oats for daily feed. In
breeding horses it is also recommen-
ded that all animals showing the least
symptoms of organic disease be re-
jected,
One of the first symptoms incident
to blindness-which any person may
readily notice-is the disposition of
the animal to raise his fore legs un-
necessarially high, while at the same
time, the ears are drawn backward and
forward in quick succession, thus Civ
ing evidence that the sagaciaus animal
is sounding the ground over which he
travels.
These are the principal ideas ad-
vanced by our cotemporary respecting
the cause Of prevalent horse blindness
in our country, and a mode of arrest
ing a spread of the evil. There are
some other causes of this disease which
appear to us more evident, and which
are perfectly capable Of REMOVAL
Blind horses are more common in
cities than in the rural districts. This
we consider is principally caused by
bad stables. Many of them are under
ground cellars, and with few excep-
tions, all stables are too small. They
do not admit a sufficient quantity Of
fresh air for ventilation and respira-
ton, and this always tends to injure
the health of the animals. Light is as
essential to the health of horses as
that of men, and yet most stables are
nearly as dark as dungeons. Several
years since, a great number of Valua-
bic French horses were attacked with
glanders and other diseases, of which
they died. 1t was recommended that
more spacious stables should be erect
The suggestion was acted upon, and,
with improved army stables, there is
not one>fourth the cases of sickness
now among the French cavalry horses.
This fact is invaluable. It would be
far better for most Of the horses in our
cities to be kept in open sheds than in
the stables commonly provided for
them.
We are also positive that eye>blinds
on the harness tend to injure the eyes
of horses, and as they are totally use
less and unsightly appendages, they
should be abandoned entirely, We
are aware that, of late the open bride
has become more common, but it sho'd
be universal. Tight, close collars,
which squeeze the eyes of horses in
putting them on, are also very injuri-
Gus to the eyes Of the animals. We
have known one case of perfect injury
to the eyes of an excellent horse from
this cause. Carriage and draft horses
should be provided with open collars,
secured either at the top or bottom,
so that they are not required to be
forced over the head Of the animals.
Scientific American.