204 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



It is observed, that " the effluvia of animal bodies, 

 like all the other excretions, is constantly running into 

 a putrefactive state, and this must point out very for- 

 cibly the necessity of a proper ventilation in stables, 

 especially when it is considered that the dung and 

 urine add greatly to the evil. 



" But the desire of giving the horse a fine coat in 

 winter induces those who have the care of him to keep 

 the stable as hot as possible, by excluding, to the ut- 

 most of their power, the external air. As far as 

 appearance goes, this custom has the desired effect ; 

 but the consequences are, that the animal is rendered 

 more delicate, and more liable to catch cold whenever 

 he happens to stand in a colder situation than that to 

 which he is accustomed. Stables that are kept hot, 

 and not sufficiently ventilated, are always extremely 

 damp. This arises from the breath and the vapour 

 of the horse's body becoming condensed on the surface 

 of the walls and running down them in a liquid state. 



When the moisture has remained for a certain length 

 of time, it acquires an unpleasant and sickly smell, 

 and which must be peculiarly offensive to an animal 

 destined, in a state of nature, to be surrounded with 

 pure and unwholesome air. In a state of health, a 

 certain evaporation from the surface of the body is 

 constantly going on ; this is called the insensible per- 

 spiration. This vapour is absorbed by the surrounding 

 atmosphere, and the quickness or slowness of the ab- 

 sorption will be in proportion to the change which the 

 air undergoes by circulation. Tlius., if the horse be 

 exposed to the open air, the evaporation is much more 

 rapid than when he is confined in the stable. This 

 evaporation unloads the vessels of the skin, invigorates 

 the circulation of the blood, and gives a general tone 

 of health and spirit to the whole animal machine. 



