244 STABLES. 



loose-box into a sick one is the addition of a set of slings, 

 which should be suspended from the roof or ceiling in such 

 a manner that the horse, when the slings are under him, will 

 be in a position to eat comfortably out of the manger, which 

 should preferably be placed at the centre of the wall at the 

 head of the box, with contrary to what 1 have advised for 

 ordinary use the watering bucket or basin and the hay 

 receptacle at its respective sides. The hook holding the block 

 of the chain should be particularly strong, and should be 

 securely fixed to a stout beam overhead. The chain should 

 be of the endless kind and should work in a multiplying block, 

 so that the slings, which should be provided with a breastplate 

 and breeching, can be raised or lowered with ease, safety, and 

 exactness. In order to give rest to the horse when he has to 

 continue standing for a long time maybe for months the 

 height of the slings should be regulated so that he can bear 

 his weight on them or not as he chooses ; for if he be in any 

 way suspended in them, the resulting pressure on his abdomen 

 will not only be uncomfortable to him, but if continued even 

 for a few hours, will interfere more or less with his digestion. 

 For dressing painful wounds, especially of the limbs, slings 

 are often a valuable means of control, by taking the animal 

 off his legs for the time being. A few rings fixed at 

 convenient positions in the wall and divisions, are useful for 

 the attachment of hobbles, one or more of which can be 

 put on the horse's legs, so as to prevent him from moving 

 them in any undesired direction. 



With the possibility of having to treat cases of infectious 

 diseases, it is well to have the sick box far removed and 

 strictly isolated from the other boxes and stalls. This 

 segregation will also be frequently valuable by reason 

 of its guarding the animal from being disturbed by the 

 noises and movements made by other horses and by 

 grooms. 



