EEPOHT ON THE TRANSIT OF STOCK. 471 



the great desideratum. The want of ventilation in the hold, and 

 consequent foul air, heat, and stench, produce results more dis- 

 astrous than even the exposure of the deck, rapidly producing 

 low typhoid fever, which it is to be feared more frequently ends in 

 pleuro-pneumonia than is generally supposed. 



The condition of a hold rilled with cattle or sheep, a few hours 

 after they have been put in, must be actually examined to be 

 fully appreciated ; and the visitor must not be content with 

 going merely down to the foot of the ladder, or even taking two- 

 or three steps towards the interior of the hold, as the stifling 

 sensation experienced naturally suggests, but let him grope his- 

 way to the back corners, where nothing can be seen, but where the 

 ventilation is worst, and where the quick breathing and constant 

 moaning of the unhappy beasts only too truly indicate their 

 sufferings, and we believe he will turn away sick at heart, and 

 astonished that the animals can endure it. Then when a storm 

 comes, and the hatches have occasionally to be closed for however- 

 short a time, these evils are a thousandfold intensified. 



The hatchway, and the sheet for increasing its ventilating power, 

 have already been noticed ; and, while these must be used to 

 their utmost capacity, some other arrangement must be devised 

 to bring these holds up to even a moderate state of ventilation, 

 the absolute necessity of which is now recognised on all hands. 

 The following method is suggested : — Holds sufficiently raised 

 above the water-line to be fitted with windows similar to those 

 used in ordinary passenger cabins. These might be made suffi- 

 ciently numerous to thoroughly ventilate a hold, with the help- 

 of one or two openings through the deck, for the escape of foul 

 air. Such an arrangement, in smooth water, would be very 

 effectual ; but, of course, the windows could only be used in 

 comparatively smooth water, and therefore some arrangement to- 

 effect ventilation in all weathers, in these upper holds as well as 

 in the holds which are below the water-line, must also be found ; 

 and for this purpose there appears nothing so good as the mul- 

 tiplication of air-pipes, similar to those now used to ventilate the 

 engine-room of a steamer. These pipes are about 12 inches in 

 diameter, are raised about 10 feet high from the deck, and have 

 bell-shaped mouths, which are curved forward so as to face the 

 direction in which the vessel is sailing, thus meeting the current 

 caused by its passage through the air, intercepting it, and con- 

 veying it downwards. A row of these might be placed along the 

 sides of the vessel, a sufficient number of which could he carried 

 down to the lower holds by means of light wooden, movable 

 tubes, or gutta-percha ones, which, when not in use, would 

 occupy very little space ; then, along the centre line of the hold, 

 another row of similar pipes would be required to carry off the 

 foul air; these would be in shape precisely the same as the 



