90 CHAPTER 9. 



with safety be kept as warm as those of which the sanitary condition is 

 more favourable. 



Many varying circumstances, however, of situation, whether bleak or 

 sheltered, of thickness of walls, of ceiling or absence of ceiling, of rooms 

 overhead, of adjacent buildings and such-like considerations, must modify 

 any general rules as to temperature. Some regard too should be paid to 

 the state of the external atmosphere. With the thermometer, for in- 

 stance, at zero out of doors, a stable would be injudiciously warm at from 

 fifty to sixty degrees, although that temperature may be taken as a fair 

 average for most seasons of the year. 



162. Artificial warming of stables. 



When the weather is cold and more warmth is desired, instead of 

 shutting up too closely the stable and thereby destroying the purity of 

 the air, it is better to have recourse to additional clothing or to arti- 

 ficial heating. The latter is very seldom applied to stables, but we feel 

 sure that it would in the long run be much better economy to go to the 

 expense of fires than to run the risk of the many diseases which are 

 generated by foul air. An open fire, though more expensive than a stove, 

 is of far greater service, because, whilst it gives warmth, it also assists 

 the ventilation. 



163. Of stables in summer. 



In summer time stables generally require to be kept as cool as possible. 

 Doors and windows can scarcely be opened too freely. In some cases 

 where the stables have a southern aspect, an awning along the front will 

 be found advantageous. 



The question of the best aspect for a stable has been already considered 

 in Chapter 1. 



164. Registering thermometer. 



A registering thermometer to show the extremes of heat and cold is a 

 useful adjunct to a stable. The cost of this instrument is but a few 

 shillings. Servants do not understand the danger of impure air. Fre- 

 quently of an evening, when they think that there is no fear of the master 

 again visiting the stable, in their ignorant anxiety for the horse's health 

 and for the glossiness of his coat, they stop up every opening through 

 which the pure invigorating air can enter. A registering thermometer is 

 some check on this practice, though of course it is very inferior to an 

 occasional visit from the master in the morning before the stable is 

 opened. 



165. Stables, both cold and close. 



It is quite possible to have a stable both cold and close. Such stables 

 are generally also damp. They are most objectionable, and are the con- 

 stant source of disease. 



