20 CHAPTER 2. 



the roof. A board should be placed about six inches below the bottom 

 of each air shaft to break and diffuse the draught ; and the top of the 

 shaft should be protected by a cowl. When merely a loft intervenes, it 

 should be removed, or at least thrown open in the centre, and proper 

 ventilation and light thus secured through the roof. 



If the owner objects to the expense of any such alterations, he may at 

 least have ventilating panes put in the windows and gratings in the 

 doors, or insist on the windows being left partially open both by day and 

 night. Nothing answers better than cutting two inches off the bottom 

 and one inch off the top of the door. The horses' coats may suffer from 

 the amount of air thus rudely introduced by this latter plan, but their 

 health will improve. 



31. Paving. 



Good paving is essential to health. It may always be obtained, even 

 in the oldest stable, at a certain expense. Advantage, unless the stable 

 is very deficient in height, may also be taken of the repaving to raise the 

 floor, and thus secure the possibility of good surface drainage. 



32. Light. 



If the light is deficient, it is very important, both for the sake of 

 cleanliness as well as for the health of the eyes, to improve it. The 

 question of the best means of introducing light is so mixed up with the 

 nature of the surrounding buildings, that it is difficult to make any 

 suggestions which will be practically useful. Vertical light, when it can 

 be obtained, is by far the best. 



33. Deficient space. 



If the cubical space per horse is insufficient, the simple remedy is to 

 diminish the number of horses in the stable. Twelve hundred cubic 

 feet has been already stated to be a sufficient allowance in a well venti- 

 lated, well paved, drained, and cleanly kept stable ; but if these acces- 

 sories are wanting, a much larger amount of space should be allowed. 



34. Conclusion. 



Finally, in every stable, however ill constructed, much may be done by 

 keeping the doors and windows open as much as possible and by scrupu- 

 lous cleanliness. 



