48 THE PRACTICAL HOUSE KEEPER. 



The other objectionable ingredients in the air of stables 

 are the ammonia, organic matter, and moisture exhaled from 

 the lungs and skin, or evaporated from the urine, etc. 



The amount of cubic space necessary for each horse in a 

 stable will depend to some extent upon the construction of the 

 stable and the means for ventilation, as well as the size of 

 the horses. It has been estimated as high as 2,000 cubic feet 

 per horse, and sometimes it is found to be as low as 500 feet. 

 But while it may be taken at about 1,200 to 1,500 feet, it 

 cei-tainly should not be less than 900 cubic feet per horse. 



Too much cubic space, while it is very advantageous in 

 summer, and even in winter if the stable can be kept warm 

 by artificial heating, or the horses made comfortable by 

 clothing and leg-bandaging, is yet objectionable at the latter 

 season if warmth cannot be ensured. 



It has been laid down for guidance, in building stables for 

 draught horses, that the internal measurements should allow at 

 least a distance of 18 feet between the front and rear walls, 

 and a width of not less than 6 feet for each single stall, to pro- 

 vide sufficient air space (about 1,200 cubic feet per horse). If 

 the stable has a loft overhead, the height should be 12 feet, but 

 if open to the roof, sufficient capacity may be afforded within 

 the angles of the slopes. 



As to the internal arrangement of the stable and the ground 

 area per horse, this again must depend upon circumstances, 

 to some extent. The ground area has been estimated at from 

 90 to 100 feet; but for large draught horses it should be a 

 little more than the latter dimension. 



VENTILATION. 



Ventilation is closely related to cubic space, as if it is well 

 contrived the latter may be diminished ; the object being to 

 get rid of impure air as rapidly as it is produced, and admit 



