190 THE ADVENTURES OE A GENTLEMAN 



cankers the frog, and impedes the perspiration of the 

 legs : it is also a common cause of grease and swelled 

 legs. If, on the other hand the dung is regularly re- 

 moved, and the dry and clean straw carefully sepa- 

 rated every morning, and placed under the manger 

 till wanted, the stable is free from unpleasant smells, 

 apd about half the quantity of clean straw will be 

 consumed. The quanity of straw allowed in cavalry 

 barracks is very small, compared with the average 

 consumption in private stables ; and yet it is uncom- 

 mon to find the litters dirty, or the stables unwhole- 

 some. Grooms are very jealous of reproof upon 

 these points ; but I have found that systematic disci- 

 pline good-humoredly enforced at the commencement, 

 will ultimately maintain itself without much subse- 

 quent trouble : in fact, when once accustomed to this 

 order and cleanliness, the men feel the comfort of it, 

 and continue it for their own sakes, if not for the 

 horse's. Proper ventilation is a most important 

 point to keep stables healthy, even where cleanliness 

 is habitually practised. 



The first duty of every morning is, of course, to 

 dress the horse : unless it rains, this process should 

 never be allowed in the stable. The horse should 



