an absurd practice. The principal reason for 

 using such pavement is, that the urine may- 

 escape between the pebbles, and keep the horse 

 dry. This effect might be produced when the 

 stalls are not level, but many reasons may be 

 urged against this practice. A horse stands 

 very uneasy and unsteady on such floors, his 

 feet only touching at a few points, which con- 

 sequently bear the weight and pressure of the 

 whole body, and in lying down he is liable to 

 bruise his knees, which causes a stiffness, and 

 is detrimental to him. in bending his joints, and 

 contributes in some measure to bring him 

 down. The rest procured on floors of this 

 kind is by no means, at times, such as the ani- 

 mal requires, for it frequently happens that in 

 lying down he removes the litter, and instead of 

 repose he receives considerable injury. The 

 bed of the stall ought to be made on a very 

 slight ascent ; for the more level it is, when he 

 lies down the more equal is the pressure on all 

 parts of his body, and consequently he enjoys 

 the greater rest. When stalls are too higli 

 before, the weight is tlirown on the hind legs, 

 which produces swelled heels. 



For the reasons above stated, the stalls of a 



I 2 



