THE HORSE HYGIENE AND SANITARY CONDITIONS. 6f)l 



ventilator in the roof. Now, as the racks are purposely made 

 so that more hay than a horse should eat can not be placed be- 

 fore him, the hay is consumed before it becomes defiled by the 

 vapor and gases from the breath and bedding of the animals, 

 while the ventilation of the stall is unobstructed. The reader 

 will see that in the arrangement of stalls and racks and man- 

 gers, the floors, doors, and windows of the stable, we need 1o 

 have in view the ventilation of the dwelling of our most noble 

 animal. 



Disinfectants. Since in all inclosed rooms and quarters 

 for animals there are times when the air may become contami- 

 nated, we need some means of removing causes of infection, and 

 these are called disinfectants. They may be divided into natu- 

 ral and artificial. An antiseptic agent is one which prevents de- 

 composition of animal or vegetable matter. A deodorizer is an 

 agent which destroys hurtful or bad smells that arise from de- 

 composing matter. Ventilation is a mechanical means of disin- 

 fecting dwellings, stables, and pens. 



Nature has arranged so that sunlight, air, earth, and water 

 are all valuable and ever-present means of correcting impurities 

 generated by animal and vegetable decay. 



Sunlight is a disinfectant for our houses and stables that 

 comes in at every opening to annihilate the fungous growth, 

 which is destructive to all animal and vegetable life. Its value 

 is not appreciated by either architect, builder, or farmer. 

 Without light the rose on the lawn or on the cheek of the 

 maiden will not bloom. It is essential to the vigor and growth 

 of animals. Without light and sunshine falling upon it, no do- 

 mestic animal has ever arrived at a mature growth. The young 

 pig or colt, calf or lamb, will seek the corner of the stall or 

 pen where the ray of sunlight falls. Sunlight facilitates evap- 

 oration to a degree that removes so much moisture from things 

 exposed to it that the decomposition is checked. Cold, too, is 

 an antiseptic ; yet, in our quarters warm enough for animals, its 

 power is not efficient. 



Water may be used mechanically for cleansing, but when ab- 

 sorbed by vegetable matter, it is usually a means for hastening, 



