420 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



Says Youatt, in treating of this subject: "What is the 

 consequence of all this? Why, if one thought be bestowed 

 on the new and dangerous character which the air is assum- 

 ing, it will be too evident that sore throat, swelled legs, and 

 bad eyes, and inflamed lungs, and mange,* and grease, and 

 glanders will scarcely ever be* long out of that stable." 



Taken out of one of these hot-houses into the open air, 

 often standing for hours in the streets fastened to some hitch- 

 ing-post, while his master, within doors, is comfortably toast- 

 ing his shins before a blazing fire, the horse will be almost 

 sure to take cold. The pores are open, the system is relaX:ed, 

 and altogether the animal is in a poor condition indeed to 

 withstand the cold and exposure. 



In putting up a stable, the number of horses which it is 

 designed to accommodate should be taken into careful con- 

 sideration, and the building be made as commodious and airy 

 as possible. A stable for six horses should be about thirty- 

 six feet long, sixteen feet, wide, and twelve feet in height to 

 the loft, if there be any. The loft should not extend to the 

 side of the stable back of the horses, but a considerable space, 

 as much as three feet, should be left for the foul air of the stable 

 to ascend, and openings should be provided under the plates for 

 the escape of these gases. This is the most judicious plan of 

 building a stable, having it wide, so that there may be a row 

 of stalls upon each side, with abundant space for the passage 

 of all the foul air generated below up to and out under the 

 roof. 



Another very important matter is the immediate removal 

 of all impure substances which may be found in and about 

 the stable, of what kind soever. The practice, common in 

 some sections, of throwing the manure under the stable 

 should be abandoned at once. When the building is situated 

 on the side of a hill, so that the back part is considerably 

 elevated above the ground, if will be very convenient to 

 throw out the manure behind. There can be no objection 

 to this procedure, if the manure be at once removed in carts, 

 as it should -be in all cases. 



