VENTILATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF STABLES. 17 



Good paving, good drainage, and ample light, and ventilation are 

 essentials in stables of any class ; and the author thinks that any saving 

 which entailed deficiency in these points would be very ill-judged. 



27. Loose Soxes (see Par, 38). 



27 'a. Ventilation and Draughts. Loose Boxes and Stalls. 



Whilst a constant supply of fresh air is essential to health, draughts 

 are most objectionable. The question is how to supply a sufficient 

 amount of fresh air without a draught in some part or other of a stall or 

 loose box. This trouble has puzzled all human ingenuity in public halls, 

 where every part of the hall is occupied ; and probably the desired end, 

 namely, the admission of fresh air without draught in some part or other 

 of the hall cannot be achieved. There must be a draught ; the real 

 question is, how to get out of it ? In a stall, where the horse is tied up, 

 and practically in a fixed position, he may not be able to get out of it ; 

 but in a loose box the horse can get out of it, and he has instinct enough, 

 or call it sense enough, if you will, to do so (always provided he is not 

 tied up). For this reason, and almost for this reason alone, the author 

 has no hesitation in recommending loose boxes in preference to stalls. 



276. Constant attention needed to Ventilation. 



Our climate is very variable, and therefore the amount of ventilation 

 in a stable requires to be adjusted not once a day, but constantly 

 throughout the day. A good servant will look to this most important 

 point, especially if he find his master takes an interest in it. 



28. Argument against the need of Ventilation , &c. 



In opposition to the views, which have been expressed above as to the 

 paramount necessity of ventilation, light, cleanliness, drainage, and suffi- 

 cient cubical space, it is often urged that the great majority of horses 

 get on without them. 



To this we reply, first, that the average amount of sickness and mor- 

 tality among horses is far greater than it need be under more rational 

 treatment and management ; and, secondly, that though the horse in 

 common with other animals, and indeed with man, has a certain power of 

 adapting himself to the circumstances in which he may be placed, yet it 

 is evident that the conditions of nature ought to be followed as nearly 

 as possible. Animal life is always most perfectly developed, and its 

 functions best performed by conforming to those conditions. 



