The Portland daily press., 1881-01-10
How Horses Ewes 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 causes
may be mentioned: insufficient or bad ar
rangment of light in stables; blnkers; high
racks for feeding; ammonia fumes in stalls,
and the whip. Although the eye of the
horse is well adapted for seeing at night, yet
he is not nocturnal animal, therefore the
stable should have daylight freely admitted
to it. A dimly lighted stable imposes the
sudden changing from twilight to broad sun
light, 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 eyes
will besstrained from being exposed to un-
equal light. If the window is directly in
front of the stall, glare of light is directed
toward the eyes with binding effect, which
is very injurious. Probably the best arrange
ment for lighting stables is by means of a
skylight or windows placed near the ceiling.
Much has been said against blinkers, yet
their use continues to a considerable extent.
If the eyes of horse, like those of man,
were directed forward, blinkers might prove
uncomfortable but 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 straining
the eyes painfully to see objects terrible to
him just back of the blinkers? The position
horses head has to assume when feeding
from high rack is the one most favorable
for the chaff or other hurtful matter from
the hay to fall into the eyes. The most Sc
rious injury commonly arising from this
cause is from the boards of grain. The sharp
little hooks or prickles 90 these attach them
selves to the eve in such a way that the wa
ter from the tear-gland cannot wash out the
the boards; Inflammation follows, and even
the most judicious treatment cannot always
save the eve.
Propably everyone is familiar with the eff
fects of sniff from grandma's bottle of
hartshorn or smelling salts-which is only
ammonia under other names-and can i'm
agine how uncomfortable continued appli-
cation of the fumes would be. Of course
the ammonia fumes rising in even 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 reme-
dies for this enemy. Of all the causes of
blindness in our noble, docile, useful friends,
none prick us so sharply with our unworth-
mess of such animals as when it is caused
by the use of the whip. No excuse can be |
1a fn,
wanton carelessness or by cruel intent.-N.
Y. Tribune.