192 STABLtNG. 



In confirmation of which, without a ie^ 

 dious animadversion upon so long a series of 

 inconsistencies, let us advert concisely to the 

 causes of such ill effects as we have ven- 

 tured to enumerate. The disadvantage aris- 

 insj from horses standing in perpetual dark- 

 ness, or with a very faint and glimmering 

 light, must be too palpably clear to require 

 mucli elucidation ; for in such state, with 

 the full and increased power of hearing, they 

 are incessantly on the watch to discover what 

 so constantly affects one sense, w^ithout the 

 expected gratification of the other. To this 

 eternal disappointment may be attributed the 

 alternate stare and twinkling of the eye-lids^ 

 so common to every description of horses that 

 stand in the most remote part of dark stables, 

 at each time of beino; brouj^ht forward to 

 face the lio-ht ; as well as the additional ob^ 

 servation, that being accustomed to see things 

 but imperfectly in the stable, when brought 

 into action upon the road, they are so much 

 affected by the change, that they become 

 habitually addicted to stop or start at every 

 strange or sudden object that approaches. 

 A certain danger also attends, when hurried 

 by a careless or drunken hostler, from the ex- 



