THE EFFECT OF DAEKNE88. 385 



Newfoundland and Esquimaux dogs, related by the excellent 

 and lamented Kane, which in consequence of being confined, 

 through necessity, in a dark kennel, during the half year of 

 Arctic winter midnight, became afflicted with a disease partak- 

 ing the symptoms of melancholy insanity — I do not mean hy- 

 drophobia — and pined away, until they literally died of the 

 effects of solitary imprisonment and total darkness. 



It may be said, then, that the things indispensable to the 

 horse in his stable, are warmth, light, air, a dry atmosphere, 

 freedom from all ill odors, absence of any currents of wind fall- 

 ing directly on his frame or limbs, and sound, dry, level stand- 

 ing ground. 



If it were possible, it would be advisable that every horse 

 should be in a loose box, which should be contiguous to another 

 box, the divisions planked closely up to about four and a half or 

 five feet from the ground, and above that separating the occu- 

 pants of the adjoining chambers only by stout upright bars, too 

 close to admit of the head being passed through, but sufficiently 

 wide to permit of the animals' seeing and smelling one another, 

 and, in their mute way, conversing. Where space and expense 

 are not considerations, I strongly advise this method ; the 

 horses will keep themselves, in some degree, in exercise, by 

 walking to and fro ; they will be at liberty to rest and roll, if 

 they desire it, and will be in all ways happier, more comfort- 

 able, and better to do in the world. 



Every stable should have, at least, one such box for sick or 

 tired horses. None but those who have observed it, can imagine 

 how a horse, after a severe day's work, rejoices and luxuriates 

 in a large loose box, plentifully provided with warm, clean, dry 

 litter. It is a pleasure to see one so situated ; and we should 

 spare no pains to contribute all in our power to the comforts of 

 the good, honest, faithful, docile, hard-working, intelligent and 

 aff'ectionate servant, who ministers so largely to our wants and 

 our pleasures ; and who only passes, as being inferior to the 

 dog in sagacity, teachableness and love for his master, because 

 we, for the most part, abandon him, except when we are on his 

 back, or in the vehicle behind him, to the care of rude, ignorant, 

 and too often cruel servants ; because we limit his education to 

 the learning of paces, and, at most, a few tricks of the manege ; 

 Vol. II.— 25 



