98 THE HORSE. 



ject of complaint with veterinary writers, and, indeed, 

 when I first knew the stables, the practice of making 

 them stoves was carried to excess, the crevices of the 

 doors and windows being often stuffed with foul 

 litter, in order to prevent the evaporation and escape, 

 if possible, of any of the precious steam. The first 

 improvement which I noticed in this respect was, as 

 I remember, in the late Earl Grosvenor's stables, and 

 we have since not had much to complain of ; and it 

 should be remembered also, that the horse, constitu- 

 tionally requires warmth, that cold and damps in his 

 standing are extremely prejudicial to him, and that 

 those which are in constant exercise, exciting perspi- 

 ration, cannot be safely trusted without clothing. 

 These premises, however, by no means exclude the 

 necessity of allowing only a moderate warmth of 

 stable temperature, joined to which there is an abso- 

 lute necessity of the periodical admission of fresh 

 and pure air. This rule, too often neglected, should 

 always have place in the absence of the horses : and 

 opposite windows, north and south the preferable 

 aspects, are the best media, from the thorough draught 

 they allow. Great care nevertheless should be used 

 to prevent partial currents of chilly and foggy air, 

 which are extremely dangerous to the heads, throats, 

 and lunos of horses. The windows or outlets next 

 the horses should be as high as possible above their 

 heads. A thorough draught may be sometimes al- 

 lowable in the racing stables during the faint and 

 debilitating heats of the dog days ; but in that case, 

 a sound discretion is needful, as I have known horses 

 at that season, on an atmospheric change, suddenly 



