Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1881-01-20
How Horses Eyes are Injured.

1t has been observed 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
are not inherited, and their origin may be
readily traced. Of this latter class of caus-
es may be mentioned insutficiency or bad
arrangement of light in stables; blinkers;
high racks for feeding ammonia fumes in
stalls, and the whip! Although the eye of
the horse is well adapted for seeing at night,
vet he is not a nocturnal animal, therefore
the stable should have daylight freely adj
mitted TO it. A dimly lighted stable impos-
es the 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 stall, the horses
head will be directed mostly to the side from
which the light comes; one eye will be more
in the shade than the other, consequently
both ewes will be strained from being ex
posed to unequal light If the window is
directly in front of the stall, glare of light
is directed toward the eyes with a binding
effect, 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
-l,osr 70, cnDc,larablc
If the ewes of the horse like those of man,
were directed forward, blinkers might prove
uncomfortable if not injurious. The range
of vision in the horse is much greater than
in man; by limiting this range of vision and
allowing it 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 in
spired with more confidence if allowed to
see all there was to be seen, than if strain
ing the eyes painfully to see objects terrible
to him Just back Of the blinkers? The pos
ition a horses head has to assume when
feeding from a high rack is the one most
favorable for the chat or other hurtful mat
ter from the hay to fall into the eyes The
most serious injury commonly arising from
this cause is from the boards of grain. The
sharp little hooks or prickles on these at
tach themselves to the eye in such way
that the water from the tear-gland can not
wash out the boards; Inflammation follows.
and even the most judicious treatment can
not always save the eye.
Probably everyone is familiar with the
effects of a sniff from grandmas bottle of
hartshorn or smelling salts-which is only
ammonia under other names-and can i'm
agine how uncomfortable a continued appli-
cation of the fumes would be. Of course
the ammonia fumes rising in even a very
badly kept stable would not be so concen-
trated as those from the salts. yet they are
Of sufficient strength to seriously injure the
sensitive and delicately organized eye Of the
horse Well-constructed floors, good man
agement, and cleanliness, are perfect rem
edies for this enemy. OF all the causes Of
blindness in our noble ,docile, useful friends,
none prick US so sharply with our unworthi-
ness 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 in
tent-TN. \. Tribune.