LIGHT. 131 



Stalls of this kind certainly do best for mares ; but for horses 

 those are preferable, which have a grating in the centre, and a 

 slight inclination in the floor on every side towards the middle. 

 A short branch may communicate with a larger drain, by means 

 of which the urine may be carried off to a reservoir outside the 

 stable. Traps are now contrived, and may be procured at little 

 expense, by means of which neither any offensive smell nor cur- 

 rent of air can pass through the grating. 



In stables with paved floors particularly, humanity and 

 interest, as well as the appearance of the stable, should induce 

 the proprietor of the horse to place a moderate quantity of litter 

 under him during the day. 



LIGHT. 



This neglected branch of stable-management is of far more 

 consequence than is generally imagined. The farmer's stable 

 is frequently destitute of any glazed window, and has only a 

 shutter, w^hich is raised in warm weather, and closed when the 

 weather becomes cold. When the horse is in the stable only 

 during a few hours in the day, this is not of so much conse- 

 quence, nor of so much, probably, with regard to horses of slo\r 

 work ; but to carriage-horses and roadsters, so far, at least, as 

 the eyes are concerned, a dark stable is little less injurious than 

 a foul and heated one. In order to illustrate this, reference may 

 be made to the unpleasant feeling, and the utter impossibility 

 of seeing distinctly, when a man suddenly emerges from a dark 

 place into the full glare of day. The sensation of mingled pain 

 and giddiness is not speedily forgotten ; and some minutes elapse 

 before the eye can accustom itself to the increased light. If 

 this were to happen every day, or several times in a day, the 



