THE STABLE 329 



of time, has a pernicious effect upon the lungs of the 

 horses ; digestion is impaired, and all the vital 

 functions injured. Inflammation of the eyes, chronic 

 cough, with a host of concomitant ailments, are the 

 consequences of inhaling this deteriorated and semi- 

 poisonous vapour. Let any person enter a stable 

 in the morning which is not properly ventilated, and 

 he will be sensibly alive to the pungent smell, and 

 even pain in the eyes, produced by the vitiated atmos- 

 phere. The chemical action of the urine commences 

 soon after it is voided. It is from this cause that 

 horses are but too frequently attacked with distempers 

 in the spring of the year, or in autumn. This is, 

 however, seldom the case in small well-regulated 

 stables. In short, I have gone into many stables 

 where their heat induced copious perspiration in a 

 few minutes, This must have a strong effect upon 

 the skin of the horse, and especially if his clothing is 

 on ; and when strapped and suddenly taken to the 

 open air thus overheated, induces coughs and other 

 diseases in the mucous membrane, as well as inflam- 

 mation in the kidneys and lungs ; and should the 

 weather be cold, rheumatism and stiffness in the 

 joints, because horses are frequently allowed to stand 

 for some time before they are put in motion, and 

 are in consequence chilled. It also too frequently 

 happens that carriage or cart-horses are allowed to 

 stand an hour or more in harness after they have 

 been overheated by severe exercise or labour. This 

 is the reason why such horses seldom live to be aged, 

 and too frequently die in the prime of life. The 

 horses of stage and hackney coaches seldom live 

 beyond the age of eight or nine years, and this is 

 chiefly owing to the carelessness of their drivers and 

 grooms ; whereas horses have been known to acquire 



