202 Air. 



the frequent removal of the litter and foeces, and above all to the 

 speedy carrying-off of the urine, which is of itself almost sufficient to 

 saturate the air with Volatile Alkali^ without the aid of the putrefac- 

 tive fermentation of the litter. 



Thus it is evident from what has been premised, that Horses kept 

 in stables not properly ventilated, must be constantly subject to the 

 influence of noxious causes through the medium of the atmosphere 

 alone. 



For, in the first place its superabundance of heat (apart from 

 every other consideration) must necessarily enervate and exhaust the 

 animal, rendering* his system far less capable of withstanding the 

 vicissitudes which the external atmosphere in all countries is subject 

 to, and especially that of these northern climates. 



Again, its deficiency in the due proportion of oxygen, whicli 

 is the vital principle, must contribute to aggravate the perni- 

 cious consequences of the too great quantity of heat ; and lastly, 

 the Volatile Alkali which is diffused in it, must be the means 

 of Air'her exasperating the ill effects of both the former sources 

 of disease. To their united co-operation we shall be safe in 

 attributing most of the fatal diseases that attack Horses kept in low, 

 crowded, ill-ventilated stables. If any one v,ill reflect upon the 

 superior hardihood and energy of constiUUion which such Horses 

 enjoy, as are kept in paddocks or other situations where they reap 

 the combined advantages of breathing a cool pure atmosphere and 

 voluntary exercise of their limbs, together with a full allowance of 

 nutritious food ; he will be convinced that the arguments which I 

 have adduced, are not those of theory or declamation, but of truth 

 and soberness. For, although something must, no doubt, be placed 



