PREVENTIVE MEDICINE 219 



is left soaking on the ground for a day it is tolerably certain that 

 all the parasites thereon will be killed. The treatment of the stalls 

 must vary with their construction. If they are of well-finished hard 

 wood, such as teak, all that is necessary is to scrub them thoroughly 

 with a similar disinfectant to that advocated for use on the floor, 

 particular care being taken that the solution penetrates into the 

 crevices at the junction of the boards. If, on the contrary, the 

 wood work is such as is commonly seen in farm stables and the like, 

 namely, soft pine so worn by age that it is covered with cracks and 

 crevices, then any amount of washing is not to be relied upon. 

 Fortunately such wood can be treated with direct heat without 

 doing it any damage, and undoubtedly the best method is to 

 flame the whole surface with the painter's lamp. This is not neces- 

 sary on good sound hard wood. 



The stall partitions must be treated with the lamp over their 

 entire surface, and the walls of boxes to a height of at least eight 

 feet. The manger-troughs and hay rack require to be carefully 

 cleaned, and if of wood should be flamed ; it is of great importance 

 to pay attention to the under surface of the racks and mangers as 

 horses invariably rub their necks against such places. The average 

 stable attendant is not to be trusted to do this satisfactorily, and the 

 practitioner would be well advised to witness this part of the dis- 

 infection himself. It is the most important part of the proceed- 

 ings and the one most neglected. The doors and door jambs 

 also call for special attention. So far as is possible, taking into 

 consideration other inmates in the building, all doors and windows 

 should be left open so as to let in as much light and air as 

 possible. 



When the stable is thoroughly clean and dry there is no need to 

 do more to it, and horses may be admitted into the once contamin- 

 ated stalls without fear of infection if the work has been properly 

 done. It is, however, the common practice to whitewash the stable 

 throughout after disinfection. It should be remembered that 

 whitewashing in itself is not to be depended upon for disinfection, 

 and should not take the place of the measures above recommended. 

 Whitewashing is, of course, out of the question in expensively built 

 stables with polished hard wood fittings and is also quite unneces- 

 sary, but with many farm stables and the cheaper class of buildings 

 found in towns it serves a useful purpose by making the place 

 lighter and giving it a fresher appearance. The methods of making 

 and applying limewash are discussed on page 210. 



STRANGLES. Disinfection of stables following an outbreak 

 of strangles is to be done on much the same lines as 



