The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-03-10
How Horsss Byes aro injured.

Il has been observed that Of all dnmes
tic animela the ho5Ao 10 the moas afflicted
! with diseases of the eye. Some of thes,
ailments are hereditary aud from un.
known causes, others--and these are oi
@ painful irequency--are inherited, and
their origiu may be readily traced
or this latter class Of causes may DO men.
toned: insufficient Of bad arrangement
of light 10 stables, blinkeFs; high rackl
for feeding; ammonia fumes in atalls, the
wbipl Although the eyes of the horae ID
we'll adapted fer seeing at night, yet he ID
not nocturnal animal, so the daylixh,
ahould be admitted tn It. A dimly
lighted stable imposes on the horse sud.
den changing from twilight 70 broad sun.
light, which cannot fail to weaken the
eight. If the windowe are arranged OIL
one aide or tho other of atall, the horses
head will ho directed mostly to tho aide
from which the light comea one eye will
DO moro in the shade than the other, both
eyes will be strained from being exposed
to unequal light. Ifthe window 10 direct.
ly In frons of the. stall, glare of light
directed toward the eyes with binding
effect. which is very injurious. Probably
the best arrangement for lighting sta.
b!es IL by means Of skylight or win.
dows near the ceiling.
Much has been said against blinters,
yet their use continues to q considerable
extent. Ifthe eyes Of the horae, like those
Of the man, were directed forward, blink
era might prove uncomfortable, but not
injurious. The range of vision Ia the
horse is much greater than in man by
limiting this range Of vision and allowing
it forward direction Only--vhich is not
nature--tho muscles OF the eyes become
strained and their strength impaired.
IL 10 not reaaonable TO suppose that
the timid, nervous home, that starts
at every unusual sight or sound, would
be inspired with moro confidence IL al
lowed to see oil there 10 to be seeu than
if straining the eyes painfully to geo OBJ
jecte terrible to him just back Of the
blinkero. The position horses head
has to assume when feeding from high
rack ID the one most favorable for chafi
or other hur.f"l matter from the hay to
fall into tho eyes. Tho most nerious in
jury commonly arising from this cause
10 from the boards of grain. The aherp
little hooks or prickleS on these attach
themselves to the eye in such o way that
tbs water from Tho lear gland cannot waRh
out the boards; Inflammation followe.
and even .he ;iGs: juI;0iuu6 treatment
cannnt always have the eye.
Probably every one is familiar with
the effects Of unfit from grandma's bot,le
of hartshorn or smelling salts-which 10
only ammonia under other names-and
imagine how uncomfortable continuous
application of the fumes would be.
OF course the ammonia fumes arising
in even very badly kept stable would
not be 80 concentrated ns those from the
salta, yet they are Of sufficient strength
to seriously injure the sensitive and deli
cately organized eye of horse.
Well constructed floor, good maEage.
ment and cleanliness are perfect remedies
for this enemy. OF all the causes OF
blindness in our noble, docile and useful
friends none prick III SO sharply with
our unworthiness to po,seas such animals
az when it is caused by the use of the whip.
No excuse can be made TO- ouch accidents
whether done in wanton carelessness or
by cruel intent.