ON THE STABLE. 139 



Such a perversion of the laws of nature is 

 productive of certain bad consequences, which 

 the following observations will tend to demon- 

 strate. 



For this purpose, it will be first requisite to 

 describe the source from whence animal heat is 

 produced, and maintained in a degree sufficient 

 for the support of life. This source is atmosphe- 

 rical air, and the mode whereby it is applied 

 to the vital organs of animal bodies is by respi- 

 ration. A certain part of this air combines with 

 the blood in the lungs, and by some chemical 

 action not yet thoroughly understood, furnishes 

 heat to the whole frame. But, as in this climate 

 the heat of the animal is greater than that of the 

 air by which he is surrounded, it follows, from 

 the known laws of heated bodies, that there is a 

 constant emission of heat from the horse, which 

 is absorbed by and warms the cooler air with 

 whicli he is in contact. Along with tlie heat, 

 a quantity of moisture constantly escapes from 



the 



