The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-12-16
How Horses Eyes are Injured.

How Horses Eyes are Injured.
It has been observed that of all do
mestic 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 arc of painful frequency
are not inherited. and their origin
may be readily traced. Of this latter
class of causes may he mentioned:
Insufficient or bad arrangement of
light in stables; biinkers; high racks
for feeding; ammonia, fumes in stalls;
and the whip! Although the eye of
the horse is we'll adapted to seeing at
night, yet he is not noctornal ami
NAL, therefore the stable should have
daylight freely admitted to it. A
dimly-lightcd stable imposed on the
horse sudden changing from twilight
to broad sunlight. which cannot fail
to weaken the sight. II the windows
are arranged on one side or the other
OF Il stall, the horses head will he di.
rected mostly to the side from which
the light comes: one eye will be more
in tie shade than the other, conse.
quently both eyes will be strained
from being exposed to unequal light.
If the window is directly in front OF
the stall. Il glare of light is directed
towards the eve with a binding effect,
which is very injurious. Probably
the best arrangement for lighting
stables is by means of skylight OF
windows near the ceiling.
Much has been said against blinkers,
vet their use continues to 4 considera.
BILE extent. If the eyes Of horse,
like those of a man, were directed for
ward. blinkerS might prove .uncom-
Portable but not injurious. Ihe range
of vision in the horse is much larger
than in man; by limiting this range
of vision and allowing it Il forward di-
rection cnly-which is not according
to nature--t!;e muscles OF the eyes be-
come strained and their strength i'm
paired. Is it not reasonable to sup
pose that the timid, nervous horse,
that starts at every unusual sight and
sound, would l'e inspired with more
confidence if allowed! to see all there
is to he seen, than K straining the
eyes painfully to see objects terrible
to him lust back of the biinkers. The
position Il horses head has to assume
when feeding from Il high rack is the
one most favorable for chafT or other
hurtf III matter from the hay to fall
in the eyes. The most serious injury
commonly arising from this cause is
from the boards Of grain. The sharp
little hooks or prickles OH these at
tach themselves to the eye III such a
way that the water from the tear
GLAND cannot wash cut the boards;
inflammation follows, and even the
most judici0us treatment cannot al-
ways save the eye.
1cIildtEo CFC. O!AS ID A~1A1AAAssA Will
the effect of a sniff from grandma's
bottle Of hartshorn OF smelling salts
which is only ammonia ander other
names--and can imagine how unen-
durable IL continued application would
be. or course the ammonia fumes
arising from even a very badly kept
stable would not he so concentrated
ns those of the salts, yet they are of
sufficient strength to seriously in;nre
the sensitive and delicately organized
eve of the horse. Well constructed
floors, good management and clcanli-
ness, are perfect remedies for this
enemy. OF all the causes OF blind
ness in our noble, docile, useful
friends, none prick us so sharply
with our unworthiness to possess
such animals as when: it is caused by: