Nebraska advertiser., 1863-01-10
cause Of BlIndness AmOng HOFses.

This is a subject of very general i'm
portance, 1t has been stated that blind
ness is more prevalent among horses in
America than among those of other coun-
tries. If this is the case, the causes of
the evil should be investigated and re.
moved if possible, without delay. The
last number Of the american Stock Jour
nal contains a good article on the spb |
iect, the leading ideas of which we have
condensed for our columns. 1t states
that blindness is more prevalent among
horses in Ohio than those of any other
section Of the country. The causes Of
blindness are attributed, in great meas
ure, to over- teeding-the Ohio horses be
ing VIGOROUSLY fat. 1t is a common prac
tice in that State to force the fat upon
horses intended for sale by stuffing them
principally with Indian corn, and keep
ing them, without much service, in warrn,
close stables. This method Of feeding
socn fattens a horse, but at the same
time its digestive functions are injured
by the treatment. II is now believed
that the blindness can be traced to sym
pathetic relation between disorder of the
digestive organs, and the brain, and that
through the latter the optic nerve becomes
diseased and ends in destroying the Wis
lion. Blindness is also frequently trans
mitted to offspring, and thus an evil,
first originating in disease; almost be-
comes natural defect by hereditary de-
cent. Errors in feeding horses, as is
well known, also produce blind staggers,
stomach staggers, and organic disease Of
! the brain; therefore the greatest care
should be exercised in feeding them
In order to prevent the spread of horse
blindness, it is recommended that when.
ever an animal shows the least symptoms
of the disease it should be kept on light
diet of hay and iats. A horse may be
maintained in good condition On IL lbs
of hay and 5 lbs of oats for daily feed
In breeding horses it is also recommend.
ed that all animals showing the least
symptoms of organic disease be rejected.
One of the first symptoms incident to
blindndess-wnich any person may read
lily notice~-is the disposition Of the ami
NAL to raise his fore legs unnecessarily
high. while, at the same time, the ears
are drawn backward and forward III quick
succession, thus giving evidence that the
sagacious animal is sounding the ground
over WHICH he travels
These are the principal ideas advanced
by our cont temporary respecting the cause
of prevalent horse blindness in our cOun-
try, and the mode Of arreoting 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 CON-
: mon 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 exceptions,
all stables are too small. They do not
admit a sufficient quantity Of fresh air
for ventilation and respiration, 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 as dark as Dungeons
Several years since, a great number OF
valuable French cavalry horses were at
tackled with glanders and other diseases
of which they died. It was recommend
that more spacious stable should be.erect
5 ed. The suggestion was acted upon. and
: with improved army stables, there is not
one fourth the cases Of sickness now
among ihe French cavalry horses. Thi.
0 fact is invaluable. 1t would be far better
for most of the horses in our cities to bt
0 kept 'in open sheds than n the stable!
Q commonly provided for them.
We are also positive that eye blind:
on the harness tend to injure the eyes oI
: horses, and, as they are totally useless
5 and unsighily appendages, they should
be abandoned entirely. We are aware
It that, Of late, the open bride has become
: more common, but il should be universal
Tight, close collars, which squeeze th'
eyes of horses in putting them on, are
e also very injurious to the eyes OF the an
mails. We have known one case Of per
manent injury 10 the eyes OF an exeelIen
horse from that cause. Carriage ant
draught horses should be provided will
{. divided collars, secVred either at the to-
! or bottom, so that they are not requires
to be forced over the heads Of the AMI
= mails Valley Former
ol man cuDVinCed agaInSt his Will Is o