VETERINARY HYGIENE AND DIETETICS. 83 



we frequently see as many as a hundred horses shut up in narrow 

 and close stables, with no openings for foul air to escape. Each 

 pair of lungs throws off an immense amount of carbonic acid 

 gas during the night. The air becomes so greatly surcharged as 

 to be absolutely poisonous. Ordinary atmospheric air contains 

 nearly 2,100 parts of oxygen and 7,900 of nitrogen, and about 

 three parts of carbonic acid in 10,000 parts; expired air con- 

 tains about 470 parts of carbonic acid, and only about 1,500 

 parts oxygen, with little or no change in the nitrogen. Hence 

 one can readily see that confined air may soon become absolutely 

 poisonous. The ventilation may be accomplished by proper ven- 

 tilators. The ventilators should be arranged on opposite sides of 

 the building to insure an abundant supply of air. The ventila- 

 tors and windows should be placed higher than the animals' 

 heads. The flooring and sides of the building should be made 

 air tight. The box stalls should be air tight to the height of four 

 or five feet. The stable should be kept at a temperature of about 

 ten or twelve degrees above the temperature out of doors. 

 During the heated period slat doors should be used and all fresh 

 air possible allowed to come into the stables. Electric fans are 

 of great benefit in crowded city stables. 



If the temperature of the stables be regulated by a thermome- 

 ter, and the ventilation sufficient to keep the air pure, sore 

 throats, fevers, inflamed lungs and eyes, and swollen legs will be 

 prevented. The majority of the maladies of the horse, and those 

 of the most fatal character, are directly or indirectly caused by a 

 deficient supply of air. The manure from the stables should be 

 carted away each day. If there is a drainage away from the 

 stables, the manure may be allowed to remain for several days, 

 but should never be allowed to remain inside the stable for a day. 

 The floor should be of dirt or gravel. The plank or paved floor 

 is not ol)jectionable when sawdust is used. The feet of horses 

 standing on plank or hard floors become hard and brittle. The 

 floor should be entirely level. 



