320 STABLES 



may be applied; but the last in this climate is seldom durable, except at 

 a considerable expense in the way of periodical painting or coating with 

 other preservatives. 



In the general arrangement of a stable there are many points to 

 be considered. The modern horse is, like the modern man his master, 

 an artificial product, and, like him, is easily affected by healthy surround- 

 ings or the reverse. There are few of the principles of modern sanitation 

 which are not applicable to the stabling department. A dry and well- 

 drained site, air, light, and ventilation without draught are all indispens- 

 able for a healthy suite of stables. Cess-pools under or close to a stable, 

 and any large or long-standing collection of manure in close proximity, 

 should also be avoided. 



The principal accommodation required in a complete stable range 

 will consist of stalls, loose-boxes, one .or more sick- or isolation-boxes, a 

 washing-box or shed, coach-house, harness-room, cleaning- and saddle-rooms, 

 a provender-room, tool-house (which may possibly also be made available 

 for a heating apparatus for hot-water pipes to the coach-house), and lofts 

 for hay and corn. The last-named may be partly over the stable, as tend- 

 ing to keep the latter at an even temperature; but the ceiling of the stable 

 should as far as possible be air-tight, as the less communication there is 

 between the air of the stable and the loft the better. For this reason it is 

 desirable that the ladders or stairs to the loft, and the shoots for hay and 

 corn, should not open directly into the stable, but, if possible, be in the 

 provender-room or in a separate passage. It is also of advantage that a 

 portion at least of the yard should be covered over for the more comfort- 

 able washing of carriages, &c., in wet weather. If this be done, a special 

 washing-box for horses may perhaps be dispensed with, though it has its 

 advantage on the score of privacy in the case of restive horses. It is 

 better not to have the manure-pit inside the stable-yard, but at some 

 distance, a portable iron box being provided for the removal to it daily, 

 or more often, of all manure from the stable. Latrines for the stablemen 

 should form a part of every w r ell-ordered stable. 



A typical plan is shown in fig. 570, with two stables of four stalls in 

 each, a range of four loose-boxes, a sick-box, washing-box, harness-room, 

 coach-house, fodder- or provender-room, and a tool-house. As the washing- 

 box serves also for a passage, there is a direct communication throughout 

 the range, except in the case of the sick-box, the isolation of which is 

 rendered as complete as possible. Perhaps four ordinary loose-boxes, 

 especially with the addition of a sick-box, may be in a larger proportion 

 to eight stalls than is usually the case. Where hunters are kept, however, 

 this number will not be too numerous, as the boxes will be used mainly for 



