The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-12-27
farm aud Garden.
Blindness in Horses.

is too often hereditary, and a consequence
of the use of diseased animals for breed
ing purposes. Defects are transmitted
10y descent as well as the good points, or,
indeed, more easily, from the inevitable
tendency toward lower standard rather
than to higher one. Animals do not
improve in kind or character from their
own natural capacity for it. At least
this is true with regard to our domestic
animals, which are relieved by our care
and control from the effects of the law to
which undomesticated animals are sub |
iect, viz, that of natural selection of the |
strongest and the best, or as it is tersely |
stated, the survival OF the fittest," and |
by the operation of which blind animal
would be soon destroyed by starvation,
accident, or its natural enemies. Our
domestic animals soon deteriorate under
neglect or bad management, and are i'm
proved only by the exercise of constant
and skliltul care, and it is far, easier for
a farmer to let his animals run down
than it is for him to build them up.
And disease is we'll known to become
hereditary. Every. horseman knows how
SPAWN, ringbones, curbs, navicular dis
ease, grease, rheumatism, lung disorders,
and nervous affections are transmitted
from generation to generation, and dis
eases Of the eyes and blindness are
equally transmissible from parent to off
spring A we'll known case often quoted
may be referred to. A mare suffering
from riugbones and unfit for work was
kept for breeding. Her colts were fine
animals and sold at high prices, but all
of them had ringbones and became use
less at the age of or years. or as soon
as they became matured and the time
came, W when these OutgrOwths. usually
A we'll known Irish stallion, Gre
gan, lost his sight by disease, and his
descendants, now the fifth generation, are
numerously stricken with ophthalmia at
2 or B years of age. The occurrence of
this hereditary transmission of disease of
the eyes and consequent blindness is so
frequent and so well known that every
one who Keeps brood mares or procures
the services of horse should exercise
the greatest care and precautions in the
selection of the animals.
But how does this frequent disease be-
come first induced, for it has cause and
beginning? No doubt the causes are
preventible, and if search for them is
made they may soon be detected. In
nine cases out of ten the stable and it's
arrangement and condition are in fault;
the careless use of the whip, and some
times Its brutal use, are occasionally to
be blamed tor it. Binders sometimes
are the source of injury, and the habit
OF clipping the horses and their thought
less exposure to cold and wet, and want
of proper care afterward, may be in
cluded among the reasons.
But the stable is the chief source of the
trouble. 1t is usually too dark, and
sometimes too light, or rather the light
enters from wrong direction; it is some
times too warm or too cold, and it is very
often foul and filled with pungent odors
SO strong as to injur harness and var
nlsh of carnage in an adjoining apart
ment. There are also defects in the
manner of feeding horses, by which the
eyes are subject to injury from the ends
of straws, from falling dust or seeds or
chat, and lastly the feeding may be, and
IS often, of such character as to induce
lntiammatory disease which attacks the
eyes as the most sensitive organ under
Its influence. There are also indirect
and leading sources Of diseases of the
eye, as those which affect the lungs, the
throat, and the membranes of the nasal
passages and cavities, or the salivarv
glands, and from which the Inflammation
spreads until it reaches the eye. To.
norant and injudicious treatment by the
owners and unskillful practitioners OF
simple accidental disorders, too, NAV be
included in the list of causes which are
TO be guarded against
:, There Is popular delusion that
disease OF the eye may be caused by the
supernumerary teeth, commonly known
as wolf teeth These teeth, however.
are entirely harmless, and, as thew are
useless, they may be removed without
damage if extracted carefully. but if thew
are roughly knocked out the gums NAV
be injured. Another popular delusion
is that the &" haw" above referred TO is
itself a product of disease, and sbould
be cut out This membrane is the Mem.
Drama nictita1l8, an indispensable portion
of the furniture of the eye, and is used
to sweep the eye.ball and remove from il
any foreign or irritating matter. 1t il
attached to the conjunctiva, which joins
the eye to eyelids, and its ordinarily
visible portion is fold of the coniunc