VENTILATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF STABLES. 9 



Or the stable may be ceiled in the ordinary manner with the exception 

 of an opening of a yard wide in the middle along the whole length of 

 the stable (Plan K). The plan of ceiling is marked F E and E p, the 

 portion between E and E being omitted. Though the cubic contents of 

 the stable are much reduced by this plan, yet the horses will derive a 

 considerable amount of advantage from the air circulating between the 

 ceiling and the roof. 



With ceilings on either of the above plans, there is no reason why the 

 louvre boards should not be made fixtures, even in stables intended for 

 horses doing very fast work, such as hunting or racing. But if the 

 owner likes to go to the expense, and can trust the discretion of his 

 servants, there is no mechanical difficulty in making the louvre boards to 

 open and shut. Either side may then be closed or left open according 

 to the wind and other circumstances. But, for the ordinary class of 

 horse in ordinary work fixed louvres are to be preferred in most 

 situations. Where, however, stables are built in very exposed or bleak 

 situations, or where there is a strong prevailing wind, it may be neces- 

 sary to board up one side of the louvre ridge. 



Ceilings, such as those proposed, are unquestionably advantageous for 

 all horses, and their adoption or otherwise is simply a question of 

 expense. The increased cost per horse in building a stable will be 

 about 5. 



15. Ventilation of stables with rooms over them. 



The foregoing suggestions for louvre ventilation have been made on 

 the supposition that there are no rooms or lofts over the stables. If it 

 is desired to have rooms or lofts over the stable, as is generally the case 

 in towns where the ground is valuable, the means of egress for foul air, 

 though it need not be bad, yet must necessarily be inferior to that 

 described above. 



Air-shafts lined with zinc and running through the roof into the 

 external air are the best substitutes for louvre ventilation. The open- 

 ings into the air will require to be protected by a cowl at the top, and a 

 board should be placed about six inches below the bottom of the air-shaft 

 with the view of breaking up and diffusing any occasional downcast 

 draught. There should be one shaft of twenty-four inches in diameter 

 for every two horses. 



It is scarcely of much use to make any recommendations as to the 

 position of the air-shafts in a stable, where there are rooms above, 

 because they must necessarily be fixed with reference to the convenience 

 of the inmates of those rooms. If there are only lofts, the shafts may 

 be placed on both sides ; or one set of shafts of double size may be placed 

 along the centre. A board should be placed about six inches below 

 the bottom of each air-shaft with the view of breaking and diffusing any 

 occasional downcast current. In other respects the addition of rooms or 

 lofts over the stable need not occasion any alteration in the construction 

 recommended in Plans G, H, and L. 



