142 VETERINARY HYGIENE 



covered with corrugated iron, may be used. This covering will 

 dispense with the costly boarding, but it must be borne in mind 

 that it makes the housing cold in winter and hot in summer. Cor- 

 rugated iron roofing, however, is suitable for cattle courts, piggeries, 

 manure pits, cart-sheds, &c. 



FLOORING. 



The flooring of buildings intended for the housing of animals 

 has always been a matter of difficulty and, at the present time, 

 opinions are divided as to the most suitable method. There are, 

 however, certain requirements that must be complied with if animals 

 .are to be housed under hygienic conditions. 



The essential requirements for a hygienic floor are that it be 

 non-porous, be capable of being easily cleaned and quick drying; 

 it must be non-slippery, durable, free from damp and be comfortable 

 for the animals. Since the majority of animals are kept for profit 

 and not for pleasure, the question of expense has to be considered. 



Owing to the fact that animals void their faeces and urine where 

 they stand it is necessary that the floor be composed of some 

 material that will not absorb moisture, otherwise the flooring and 

 the subsoil would become permeated with urine, &c., and be con- 

 stantly damp and cold, and the air of the building would be vitiated 

 with the products of decomposition which, if not actually causing 

 disease, would at least lower the vitality of the animals and render 

 them more susceptible to disease. Damp floors and damp walls 

 are marked predisposing causes of illness and general debility. A 

 floor that does not soak in water and which readily dries after it 

 has been flushed lasts longer than one that retains moisture. 



Slippery floors have been responsible for many accidents to 

 animals, and especially to horses and cattle. The more impervious 

 a floor is to moisture the harder and denser is its structure, but 

 unfortunately the surface of such a floor is smoother than one which 

 is less compact. An even floor with a smooth surface becomes 

 polished with the friction of animals passing over it; dirt, especially 

 of a greasy nature, fills up the small pores on the surface, making 

 it still smoother until it becomes polished in much the same way 

 as does wood that is dressed with wax and turpentine. A smooth 

 hard surface is slippery to shod horses and a smooth wet surface 

 is dangerous to cattle, especially if it is dirty. 



Accidents to horses and cattle on slippery floors are mainly due 

 to the passage at the rear of the stalls being too narrow, to turnings 

 near or at the doorways being too abrupt, and also to animals being 



