THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 203 



a more equal temperature, and not so readily broken 

 by the pawing of the animal as stone or brick 



The use of a Utter is absolutely necessary, as pre- 

 venting many diseases of the feet, and preserving a 

 natural and necessary moisture. " We do not like," 

 says Mr. Youatt, " the naked and uncomfortable ap- 

 pearance of the stable ; and we cannot forget the 

 difference in our own feelings, whether we stand for an 

 hour or two on the hard stones or a soft carpet, and 

 especially whether we beat our feet upon the one or 

 the other. We are disposed to say that humanity and 

 a proper care of the foot of the horse should induce us 

 to keep some litter under him during the day ; but his 

 feet need not sink so deeply in it that their temperature 

 should be much affected. " 



We must now consider another very important 

 branch of the Stable Management, viz., the Ventilation 

 and admission of light to the buildings, both of which 

 are too frequently totally disregarded. 



Tn a close stable, the air is not only hot, but im- 

 pure ; the circumstance of several horses being shut 

 up during many hours with every breath of air ex- 

 cluded, contaminates the atmosphere ; the very breath 

 of the animals corrupts it, and renders it unwholesome ; 

 and this passes from time to time through the lungs, 

 produces an imperfect digestion, stops the healthy 

 course of the blood, and soon every function of Hfe 

 becomes deranged. In such cases, when the stable- 

 door is first opened in the morning, a strong, bad, and 

 oppressive smell rushes out ; and as soon as the per- 

 son enters, he finds a difiiculty in breathing, which is 

 sometimes so great that perspiration will follow. From 

 this room the animal is shortly brought forth to his 

 daily exercise : the natural consequence of such sudden 

 transitions must sooner or later be disease. 



