AND RURAL ECONOMIST. 249 



vailed upon to open a window, it is comnionlj^ so small, and 

 so inconveniently situated, as to be but of little service. 

 Let any one for a moment consider how foul an atmcsplicre 

 must be produced in a close stable, in whicli several horses 

 are kept, by the constant exhalation of miwholesome vapors 

 from the litter, by the steams of perspiration from the skin, 

 and by noxious airs from the lungs, and he will not be sur- 

 prised at the long catalogue of diseases to which this impro- 

 per treatment must subject these useful animals. 



If a doubt remain in the mind of any one as to the im- 

 propriety of such close stables, let him enter one early in 

 the morning, on its being first opened, and he will experi- 

 ence such a painful sensation in the eyes, and so violent a 

 cough, as will afford him the most convincing proof of the 

 noxious and stimulating nature of such an atmosphere ; yet 

 such is the obstinacy and ignorance of grooms in general, 

 that they cannot be prevailed upon to abandon this in- 

 jurious practice. Even at this time stables are generally 

 built too low, and unprovided with effectual means of ven- 

 tilation. 



A stable should be as lofty as it can be made conveniently, 

 at least twelve feet ; the foul air will then circulate in the 

 higher parts, and the animal will not be constantly breathing 

 an unwholesome atmosphere, which he must do when the 

 ceiling is scarcely higher than his head. Proper apertures 

 must be also made in the ceiling, communicating with the 

 atmosphere by square wooden tubes, so contrived as not to 

 admit the rain into stables ; the foul air and other unwhole- 

 some vapors will then readily pass off, while a proper quan- 

 tity of fresh air may be admitted by means ol' windows. 

 The next circumstance to be attended to is nearly connected 

 with, and not less important than ventilation ; namely, the 

 so constructing a stable as to be able to regulate its tem- 

 perature, or keep the air at any degree of heat that may be 

 thought proper. It is generally allowed, that a uniform tem- 

 perature in a stable is very desirable; and it is certain, that 

 many of the diseases of horses are caused by sudden changes 

 in this respect. Even slight variations of temperature, if 

 frequent, are injurious ; yet few stables are to bo found 

 where this inconvenience is efTectu ally guarded against. To 

 accomplish this desirable purpose, the windows should be in 

 different sides, so that when a cold wind blows from any 

 point it may be shut out, while fresh air is admitted by the 

 opposite window. There should be several of the apertures 



