The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-09-27
Blindness.

Blindness occurs frequently in horses,
and very greatly deteriOrateS their val
lie, rendering them useless for some
kinds of work, and only half useful for
others. The causes of it are often too
obscure or reconcile to be detected be-
fore they produce their effect, or to be
even conjecturally counteracted by any
other means than the general good
treatment of the animals. Two COM
mon but quite incurable kinds of blind
uess in the horse are amaurosis and
ihe so-called moon-blindness; and a
third kind is occaSioned by ophthalmic
inflammation.
The blindness of a horse, when in
duced, may be known by the uncertain,
unequal, and hesitating manner of his
gait, by his occasionally lifting the foot
as if to step over an obstacle when no
obstacle exists, by his pricking up his ears
and moving them in 4 peculiarly listful
manner when any person enters the sta
bic, by his hanging back timidly and hes;-
tatingly in his halter. and especially by
the dilatatiOn or contraction of the nu-
pill Of the eye under sudden transitions
from light to darkness, OF from dark
ness to light But when a blind horse
is mounted by an expert horseman, he
may show none of the symptoms in
hesitation of gait, but under the action
of the whip, and from adrot manage
ment, may move with perfect resolu-
ton and freedom.
\ horse blind in but one eve may, ac-
cOrding to circumstances, either be very
little or very much deteriorated. The
loss of one eve does not enfeeble sight:
because the other acquires greater en-
ergy, though it must contract the field
of vision. 1t is said to render the con-
ceptiOn erring, and the case of miSiudg-
ment of distances is the one commonly
brought forward to show this. But
One-eyed horse may not be absolutely
condemned for the common business of
the road or farm.
Blindness is much more frequent, but
far less inveterate among sheep than
sheep be carefully examined, the eyes OF
many of them will either show symp-
toms of partial or total blindness, OF
present indications of quite recent re-
COvery from blindness of some kind.
The most cOmm&l causes are prolonged
fatigue, hard driving, chasing about by
dogs, burying beneath the snow, warm
days followed by frosty nights in Win
ter, and, rs some think, the blowing
Of the pollen Of flowers into the eyes,
and sometimes either infection or some
underlined description of epidemic in
fluence.
In, L, g l. L.
whole surface of the eve-balls has a
light blue color, resembling the color
of deep salt water when seen perpen-
dicularly in clear sunshine; but in the
more common kinds, a white film
gradually spreads over it till the whole
surface seems a pearly whiteness. All
The kinds, however, appear to be pre-
coded or accompanied by inflammation;
and when properly treated, or even
sometimes when they are merely 1T
alone, they, with few exceptions,
gradually and speedily disappear.
Blindness not unfrequently attacks
poultry, and may, in general, be easily
cured. 1t is generally a consequence
or an accompaniment of roup, and dis
appears when that disease is cured. 1t
IS sometimes the result Of pure infam-
nation of the eye, and may consist in
either cloudineSs, liberation or enlarge
ment OF that organ, and may be cured
by few lamentations with warm
water, each followed by the introduc-
ton OF a few drops of very diluted
laudanum between the eyelids. 1t is
sometimes also the effect or symptoms.
of some other disease, and consists in
the closing up of the eye with mucous
matter; and, in this case, it may be re-
moved by such simple means as the
cleansing of the coop, and slight pro
lection in any manner from cold Wind |
and chilly air.-Prairie Farmer. |