372 HORSES ON BOARD SHIP. 



width of beam, and on the manner in which she has been 

 loaded. As the subject of loading a ship does not come 

 within the province of this book, I will content myself by 

 saying that shippers of horses would do well to avoid vessels 

 which carry railway iron. When there are only a few 

 horses, they are generally put on the upper deck, which is a 

 position that admirably fulfils the requirements of ventilation; 

 but it exposes the animals much more to danger from heavy 

 seas, than placing them below. When horses are carried on the 

 upper deck they should always, if practicable, be provided 

 with boxes, which should be put in a well-sheltered situation. 

 Nowadays sailing vessels are so seldom' used for conveying 

 horses that we need not consider them here. Steamers with 

 flush decks and but little " shear " are the worst for horses on 

 deck, and those which are provided with high bulwarks are 

 the best. A ship that is light, and is consequently high out 

 of the water, will naturally be safer for animals on deck than 

 if she were deep. Horses, when in considerable numbers, are 

 usually carried on the main deck, and even on the lower deck. 

 They can then be put in stalls, which should be made 

 particularly strong, and may be arranged in two rows : one 

 on the port side, the other on the starooard side. It is an 

 advantage for purposes of cleanliness to have the horses' heads 

 facing outwards, with a passage between the two rows of 

 animals. Horses which are below are greatly exposed to 

 diseases of the organs of breathing from defective ventilation, 

 and from their dung and urine being allowed to accumulate 

 under them. Hence the utmost care should be taken to pro- 

 vide them with an ample supply of fresh air, to protect 

 them from chill, and to keep their abode scrupulously clean. 



As regards the position of horses on board ship, we may 

 conclude that they should be placed as near midships as 

 practicable ; because there is less motion in that part of the 

 vessel than at either end. As the inclination of the deck is 



