56 THE FAMILY HOUSE. 



its confinement ; but enfeebled by imprisonment, and subservient to 

 man's exactions, it ever gladly returns to the place of its sorrow. It 

 lives in so limited a space that, in comparison with the dimensions of 

 its abode, a man in a sentry-box dwells in a mansion; or a lion in a 

 cage roams over a domain. A reasonable and intelligent being com- 

 mands his horse to be fastened to such a spot, ana supposes that a liv- 

 ing organism is to endure the confinement which does not permit the 

 body to turn round ; that animated functions are to exist where most 

 ordinary exercises are rendered impossible ; nevertheless he antici- 

 pates the creature will appear bounding with health in answer to his 

 requirements." 



Among the horses in this country kept for family use there is 

 probably more suffering from mistaken kindness and lack of skill 

 and judgment, than from deliberate cruelty or willful neglect. An 

 immense mass of empu'icism, prejudice and false notions in relation 

 to horse management in health and disease has become traditional, 

 and is handed down from one generation to another. Even when the 

 horse is in apparent health, with no morbid symptoms whatever, it 

 is bled, pm'ged and bhstered ; harsh diuretics and "condition pow- 

 ders " of unknown composition are administered, with no very definite 

 or intelligent aim, but under the vague idea that such treatment will 

 somehow improve the condition and appearance of the horse. If we 

 are to retain the pristine health and vigor of the horse under the 

 artificial conditions of domestic servitude, we must furnish it as far 

 as possible with equally pure air, wholesome food and water it has 

 while running wild. 



In the first place, the stable must be kept perfectly clean at all 

 times. If allowed to remain in such a condition that if a man 

 stays ten minutes his clothing becomes saturated with pungent am- 

 moniacal odors, it is not a fit place in which to keep a horse. The ani- 

 mal cannot retain perfect health in an atmosphere loaded with foul 

 gases. The stalls and floor must be cleaned every morning and kept 

 clean. The droppings and wet, foul litter should not be tossed 

 through a hole behind the stall, and left piled up there in a reeking 

 dunghill, with the gases and odors of fermentation penetrating the 

 stable. To say nothing of the waste of manure, which is often an 

 item of some importance, such a practice is utterly incompatible 

 with pure air in the stable. The manure and litter should be kept 

 in a sheltered place and frequently sprinkled with some absorbent, as 

 gypsum, swamp muck, or if nothing better is at hand, dry coal ashes 

 or road dust. During warm weather the stalls, gutters and entire 

 floor should be washed frequently with plenty of water. Dry land 

 plaster sprinkled plentifully on the floor will absorb ammoniacal 



