Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1881-09-22
Diseases OF the Eye In Horse and in
Man.

lower animals are not only less numer-
Gus. but they are more uniform in their
progress aud symptoms, than those of
the human body. The eye Of the horse
is subject to much fewer diseases than
that Of man, whilst at the same time
these diseases do not assume that al
most infinite variety of character which
is met with in the human eye, and
which is in man produced from the
habits of society. and the various modes
of life 10 which he is exposed. The
uniformity in the appearance of diseases
in the eye of the horse makes the
treatment of them more simple-less of
that nice discrimination being required
in treating individual cases, which is
so essentially requisite in the practice
Of medicine. The value OF the horse,
both for the useful purposes which he
serves. and the qualification of amuse-
ment, having made the breeding of that
noble animal a source OF considerable
profit 10 the breeder. it therefore be-
comes Of great importance. not only to
improve his strength ami beauty, but
the treatment and management OF all
the diseases to which he Is subject, and
By which his utility or appearances
might be injured. Next TO the
vital organs, healthy state of the
eyes of the horse is perhaps
of the greatest Importance, as
for most purposes in which he is
employed much depends on the safety
of his movements. and in these the eyes
have an important share. In man a
great deal OF the character OF the coun.
tenance arises from the brilliancy and
expression Of the eyes; so also, in the
horse. the form. the color, and position
Of the eyes, have the principal share in
giving expression to the head. From
the position of the eyes in the head OF
man, an inperfection in one of these or
gans produces little or no defect in
vision. the two eyes being always en-
ployed to look at the same object. But
in a horse the eyes are so placed that
he at the same time observes different
objects with each eye. When, there
fore, one eye is imperfect. the
horse is apt to shy and start; whereas,
when one eve is completely destroyed,
he generally seems 10 suffer little in |
convenience. In man, there is fire.
quently an original or congenital diff |
ference in the two EYES. This. how |
ever. is not easily ascertained in the
horse, though IL appears very probable, |
from the difference TO he almost uni !
yersally observed in the two sides OF
the face. Ii is a common observation, !
that when one eye is attacked with any |
disease. the other is very apt 10
become affected with the same COM |,
plant. This sympathy observed
between the two eyes has been |
noticed in all those organs of
animals of which there are a
pair. In regard 20 how lar any of the
affections of the horse are hereditary, !
there is no doubt that every race OF
animals inherits the bad as well as the
good qualities of the parents; and that.
in breeding, inperfection and detormity
may be as successfully propagatcd a.
perfection and ,beantss This has been
established beyond all controversy; and
il is well known that. IN mankind. fam
lilies are not only subject to particular
diseases, but in every race one or more
organs ot the body ara less perfect in
structure and functions, and more
liable 10 disease. Numerous facts may
be brought forward TO establish the
truth OF this observation; but il is sufii-
Gent for the present purpose 10 re.
mark how often il happens thai in one
family many Of its branches are affect.
edeither with diseases % the lungs. oil
brain. or liver, or stomach. Some
diseases. OF the human eye are alsc
known 10 be hereditary. it is therefore
10 be expected that the exc of III,
horse shah be detective, aud more /,
liable to diseases in particular races
or. rs il is usually ecnominatcd, in Ger
:ain lines OF blood or breeding
breeders OF horses are familiar witt
this observation, and its coincidence
with similar facts in other organs MAXI
il worthy of attention. Prdtrie Farmer