338 THE HORSE 



through the many minute cracks of the outside wall, 

 the window- sashes may be raised and lowered to suit 

 the temperature and other conditions. Horses kept in 

 cool stables are healthier, more vigorous and less likely 

 to suffer from contagious and other diseases than are 

 those kept in overheated stables. However, if they are 

 not blanketed, their hair will not be so smooth, short 

 and soft as it would be if they were kept in warm 

 stables, that is, those where the temperature seldom 

 falls below 40 Fahr., and is usually between 50 and 

 75 Fahr. (See Blankets, Chap. XV.) 



The decomposition of the excrements, especially the 

 urine which soaks into the floor, goes on more slowly 

 in cold than in warm stables; hence the air in cool 

 stables is likely to be purer and better than in warm 

 ones. Most horses are subjected to many vicissitudes 

 of weather while at work; therefore their vigor should 

 not be reduced, nor should their skins be made over- 

 sensitive, by being placed in stables where the tempera- 

 ture is so high as to weaken appetite and relax the 

 system. (See Grooming, Chap. XV.) 



The most unhealthy stables I have ever inspected 

 were in northern New York. They were boarded inside 

 and out with first-class matched pine lumber. The 

 windows were few and closely fitted. In the winter, 

 they swelled so tight, as did also the doors, that they 

 could neither be opened nor closed readily. The box- 

 stalls were nearly air-tight. Their inner surfaces were 

 saturated with condensed moisture, and even large 

 drops of water adhered to or dropped from the ceiling. 

 In two of these barns, the ground feed was spoiling on 



