186 THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 



of the groom can entirely prevent it, especially dur- 

 ing the night, if the stable is low and confined. It is 

 well worth the while of any gentleman who is about 

 to build, to inspect the stables at the Veterinary Col- 

 lege : he will at once remark their lofty height as 

 compared with others, and the ample size of the 

 stalls and the wide space between the stalls and the 

 opposite wall. Even the construction of the stalls is 

 a matter of importance : the drain should be in the 

 centre, and the paving should be as level as is con- 

 sistent with the drainage. As stables are usually 

 paved, almost every horse stands with his fore feet 

 in an unnatural position, almost resting on his toes : 

 the pain of this, especially to a tired horse, must be 

 very considerable : and it is very probable that per- 

 manent injury is often occasioned by it, both to the 

 foot and the joint. 



Due attention should be given to the admission of 

 sufficient light : the eye is seriously affected by sud- 

 den change from darkness to light. Everybody has 

 heard the story of the Bastile prisoner, struck per- 

 manently blind by sudden restoration to the light of 

 day ; for everybody has heard some juvenile platform 

 orator, when asserting the natural right to liberty. 



