THE HORSE 95 



Light 



There still lingers an old-fashioned prejudice 

 against admitting light into a stable. It is said 

 that light attracts flies which worry the horses. 

 As a nation Ave are only just beginning to 

 realize the importance of air and light to our 

 own healths, so perhaps it is hardly surprising that 

 these old prejudices should linger in connection 

 with the management of our horses. As a matter 

 of fact, flies are attracted by the manure rather 

 than by the horses, and they will not swarm in a 

 stable which is light, and consequently clean. 

 Light, particularly sunhght, is essential to the 

 maintenance of health as being the only natural 

 germicide we know of, and as disease is usually 

 the result of bacteriological action, the importance 

 of allowing sunlight to penetrate the dwellings of 

 man and beast can be fully realized. Also light 

 is essential to the health of the eyes. For these 

 reasons, and for the additional one that dark 

 stables are usually dirty stables, as much light 

 should be admitted as possible. However ill- 

 constructed a stable may be, much may be done 

 toward keeping the inmates in good health by 

 keeping the doors and windows open as much as 

 possible to admit both light and air. Only too 



