164 THE HORSE. 



dilation of one cubical foot per horse up to four horses, and half 

 an additional foot for each horse beyond this number it will fulfil 

 all the conditions required. The principle on which it acts is as 

 follows : The liquid drainage enters from the stable at (a), and 

 falls into the inner half of the pit, marked (6), which is separated 

 from the other half by an iron partition (c). This is fixed above 

 in a stone or iron lid (c?), which, being fitted in a frame at the top 

 of the pit, effectually closes it except when taken up by the 

 groom for the purpose of removing the solid contents at (ft). The 

 sides of the iron partition (c) should run in grooves cut in the ce- 

 ment lining the pit, which it should pretty accurately fit, but only 

 so as to keep all solid matter from passing through. A space of 

 from two to four inches according to the size of the pit is left be- 

 neath the iron partition and the bottom or floor, and through this 

 the liquid passes, filling the outer half (e) and overflowing through 

 the pipe (/) as fast as it has run in at (a), the same level being 

 always maintained in the two halves of the pit. With this simple 

 apparatus properly constructed all internal stench traps may be 

 done away with, and the iron surface-drains which I shall pre- 

 sently describe alone introduced. 



THE FIRST THING in all stables is to provide for the rapid removal 

 of any fluid which falls upon the litter, whether it be urine or 

 water used in washing legs or floor. Without this damp arises and 

 the health of the inmates suffers in proportion. Foul gas, such as 

 is given off from decomposing matters in sewers, is no doubt preju- 

 dicial, but damp is still more so ; and while I would be careful to 

 guard against the former I would still more cautiously attend to 

 the exclusion of the latter. Hence it is that I would exclude all 

 internal traps j and every one who has watched the proceedings of 

 his own stablemen will have seen how constantly, if they know 

 their business, they are obliged to clean out the stench traps if 

 they are furnished with them, or on the contrary how slowly these 

 articles allow the fluids to pass off if they are not thus attended to. 

 Even the old-fashioned simple plan of making the stalls to fall 

 rapidly to an open gutter, and carrying this straight behind the 

 horses through an opening in the wall to the manure-hole, will 

 answer better than neglected stench traps ; and as it is always wise 

 to count upon the occasional carelessness of the men, it is expe- 

 dient to arrange on this basis if it is practicable, which I know by 

 experience it is, by the adoption of the catch-pit I have described. 

 In the country such a pit may be interposed between a liquid 

 manure tank and the stable, or it may simply be placed outside, 

 taking care that the drain (/) has some safety valve to allow of 

 the escape of any gas which is generated beyond it either in the 

 liquid manure cistern or in the drain which carries away its con- 

 tents, whatever they may be. No trap will prevent the passage of 



