46 ON THE CECONOMY OF THE STABLE. 



the wall immediately behind each ftall, where 

 the faddle, bridle, and various appropriate trap- 

 pings might be handily depolited. 



It is, perhaps, ftill the fafhion to keep our 

 ftables too hot ; however that be, there is a 

 kindred error on which I (hall fpeak more de- 

 cidedly. The negled of airing ftables of all 

 defcriptions, is too general, and the hot and 

 piercing effluvia of the dung muft, I am con- 

 vinced, have a very ill effeft, although it may 

 be gradual, upon the eyes, brain, and lungs of 

 the horfes, and may be fecretly preparing a 

 foundation for many difeafes. I believe it to 

 be an affifting caufe in the blindnefs of thofe 

 many horfes, which annually become fo, no- 

 body feems to know why. Yet when the fta- 

 ble is empty of horfes, and enveloped with a 

 hot mift, which makes one's eyes water, I have 

 ever found the grooms averfe to leave even a 

 crack open, whence the foul air might efcape. 

 The general plea is, the probable intrufion of 

 pigs or poultry, in truth a good one; for fet- 

 ting afide the idea of dirt, the feathers of the 

 latter are dangerous ; but it is of the utmoft con- 

 fequence to have windows fo placed, that a 

 current of frefli and wholefome air may be 

 conduced through the ftable. 



I have often talked myfelf to confider of a 



convenient, and at the fame time comprehen- 



five plan of ftabling, calculated for a country 



3 gentleman 



