70 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



of a kind to afford a good foothold. Blue Staffordshire bricks, and buff 

 adamantine clinkers, grooved in various ways so as to assist in the drainage 

 of the surface, are commonly used for the purpose, but a good floor can 

 also be made with Portland cement and granite chippings laid by expert 

 workmen on a bed of brick or stone rubble. 



The division of the stable into stalls or boxes will be arranged according 

 to the number of animals to be kept, and the necessity which may arise 

 from the limitation of space. There is no doubt at all of the advantages of 

 boxes where space and cost are not paramount considerations. From 12 to 

 14 feet square are the ordinary dimensions, but smaller boxes down to about 

 10 feet square are often used; they must be large enough to allow the 

 animal to alter its position as much as it chooses. The animal may be 

 tied by the head, as in a stall, whenever necessary. Stalls from 6 to 7 feet 

 wide and 10 to 11 feet long are economical in space and cost, and it is- 

 usual in the case of small stables to have one or two boxes for special use, 

 and three or more stalls, as may be required. One or more sick-boxes, 

 enclosed with walls and entirely disconnected from the other stalls and 

 boxes, are necessary in all large stables. 



In connection with the construction of stables, lighting, ventilation, and 

 drainage are matters of supreme importance. 



LIGHTING 



The arrangements for lighting will depend upon the aspect of the stables, 

 and their surroundings. Stables which are built on to houses, or in 

 proximity to them, commonly have very little choice in the matter. When 

 it is possible to choose, the south would generally be preferred, but some 

 authorities prefer east, and others west, and certainly there are many very 

 good stables with a northern aspect. In arranging the windows, care 

 should be taken that every portion of the stable is well lighted; means of 

 cutting off the light from any part to some extent may be considered 

 necessary, but nothing can be lost by having sufficient light to commence 

 with, and windows are supplied now with special arrangements for ventila- 

 tion, on which subject more has to be said in another place. (See 

 chapter on Stable Architecture.) Probably the best position for stables is 

 one in which the front of the building has an aspect between south-west 

 and south-east; the back wall forming the heads of the stalls will thus 

 face between north-east and north-west, and the amount and brilliance of 

 the sunshine admitted through the windows over the mangers will be 

 very small, and will not injuriously affect the eyesight of the horses. 

 An ample measure of sunlight will be admitted through the windows 



