190 VETERINARY HYGIENE 



thus borrowed is as often as not again filled by animals, or in some 

 cases it is used as a temporary store for hay and such-like. Pro- 

 vided that the building is generally sound and suitable for its pur- 

 pose, it would be folly to condemn it if the air-space is only a 

 little less than what is desirable. 



In most instances it will be found that the ventilation will also 

 be insufficient and, if this is remedied, a more simple and far more 

 important matter, the house should be passed as satisfactory. In 

 some instances it will be found that the air-space can be considerably 

 augmented by heightening the walls. This, of course, would not 

 be thought of unless the roof is faulty and needs rebuilding. It 

 must also be remembered that the height of the walls must not be 

 so increased that the ventilation is interfered with (see Ventilation). 



Ventilation and Lighting. In almost all the older buildings the 

 ventilation is deficient. Not only are the total inlet and outlet 

 areas too small, but the arrangement of both is usually bad and 

 capable of material improvement. Provision for the inlet and outlet 

 of fresh air should be calculated from the table given in the section 

 dealing with ventilation, and certainly not less than the minimum 

 there suggested should be arranged for. Inlets for fresh air can 

 be efficiently and cheaply provided by inserting drain pipes in the 

 walls as recommended on a previous page, but it will be found that 

 many proprietors of the old school will object to this free intake of 

 air. If the lighting is also poor it may be found that the most 

 convenient, if not the most satisfactory method of increasing the 

 ventilation is by putting in a number of wall windows. A more 

 efficient method is to install Findlay's ventilating and lighting 

 system. In deciding what measures to adopt the whole circum- 

 stances of the case should, of course, be carefully considered. What 

 would be necessary in one instance might be quite uncalled for in 

 another building. At least 3 square feet of glass must be allowed 

 per horse or cow, and this may be increased with advantage. Pro- 

 vision for the escape of the foul air is the important thing to attend 

 to, and this should be done by giving free outlet at the roof ridge 

 (see Ventilation). 



Flooring. The flooring in many cow-sheds and stables is very 

 bad. Often it is composed of soft building bricks or paving slabs 

 which have worn unevenly. In country districts the earth is some- 

 times the only flooring for stables. 



In the preparation for relaying floors, the old floors should be 

 entirely lifted, as patching never pays in any sense. After the old 

 flooring has been removed, the top layer of the soil, which will be 

 found sodden with urine, &c., must be lifted and the solum made 



