187 



branch may communicate with a larger drain, by 

 means of which the urine may be carried off to a res- 

 ervoir outside the stable. Traps are now contrived, 

 and may be procured at a little expense, by means 

 of which neither any offensive smell nor current of 

 air can pass through the grating. 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. 



This neglected branch of stable management is of 

 far more consequence than is generally imagined; 

 and it is particularly neglected by those for whom 

 these treatises are principally designed. The farm- 

 er's stable is frequently destitute of any glazed win- 

 dow, and has only a shutter, which 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 consequence, 

 with regrard to horses of slow work ; but to carria^'e 

 horses, and hackneys, 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, ref- 

 erence 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 blaze of day. The sensation of mingled pain 

 and giddiness is not soon forgotten, and some min- 

 utes pass before the eye can accommodate itself to the 

 increased light. If this were to happen every day, 



