No. 4.] STABLE MANAGEMENT. 1*5 



Ihnanations from manure pits are commonly believed, 

 even by well-informed persons, to be healthy. The idea is 

 a very absurd one, and probably arises from the fact that 

 outbreaks of disease are not traceable to this cause, as 

 others more potent, and nearer to the animal, are acting at 

 the same time. Manure, when placed in the pit, undergoes 

 decomposition ; large quantities of ammoniacal gases, or- 

 ganic vapors and carbonic acid are formed ; but, owing to 

 the nature of the mass, these substances can only escape in 

 a partial degree, and are rapidly diluted with air as they 

 pass out, so that the odor of the substance is faint. But let 

 the surface be removed, and allow the hogs to work it over, 

 and then the noxious, penetrating, poisonous products of 

 animal and vegetable decomposition come out with full in- 

 tensity. Still, many of our cattle are confined over. just 

 such places. 



We have before seen the enormous amount of impurity 

 conveyed into the air by horses and cattle in health ; and 

 have pointed out that, owing to the fact that animals have 

 to live, sleep, eat, drink, defalcate and urinate all in one 

 place and under one roof, the organic emanations are par- 

 ticularly foul. 



To make matters worse, we have a strong and popular 

 prejudice against fresh air, — a prejudice not perhaps so 

 marked as in the days when every crevice, including the 

 key-hole, was carefully stuffed, but still sufficiently strong 

 to form a most formidable barrier to the progress of veter- 

 inary hygiene. On entering stables of this description, a 

 penetrating odor, unmistakably of organic matter, is met 

 with; ahot, damp, muggy feeling, which is insupportable, 

 accompanied by pungent ammoniated vapors, which irritate 

 the conjunctiva, — the mucous membrane which lines the 

 inner surface of the eyelids. 



The Chairman. I find the following printed on our 

 programme : " The lectures will be followed by discussion, 

 in which all persons present are invited to engage." 



Mr. A. Pratt (of North Middleborough). I want to 

 ask the doctor to go a little further in regard to those three 

 stables which were found to be in good condition. If I 



