62 STABLE MANAGEMENT. 



Charcoal (/choalie). 



Although it looks dirty, powdered charcoal 

 sprinkled over the floor has a powerful effect as 

 a deodorizer. The ashes of a wood fire do nearly 

 as well as charcoal for this purpose, and can be 

 obtained anywhere, as wood is universally used 

 for fuel all over India. In some stables earthen- 

 ware vessels (chatties) are buried under the floor 

 to catch the urine. This is an abominable, filthy 

 custom, and should never be permitted, as there is 

 no more certain cause of disease. Diseases of the 

 feet, such as foul smelling, suppurating frogs, thrush, 

 and canker, are in the majority of cases caused by 

 horses standing on wet, filthy floors. 



Picketing. 



In the hot season horses should, if possible, be 

 picketed out at night as soon as it gets cool in the 

 evening. It is the greatest relief to an animal to 

 be brought out of a hot stable into the open air, 

 even if the actual temperature is no less than in- 

 doors. If the flies or mosquitos are troublesome, 

 the nets sold for the purpose will keep them off. 

 If the net is not sufficient, a fire made out of the 

 stable litter on the windward side will drive them 

 away, and horses do not mind smoke. It is as well 



