250 THE HORSE IN SERVICE 



stall, fixed at such distance apart as to admit but not catch the 

 narrow calks or to prevent the entrance of broad calks, depending 

 upon the type of horse to be stalled, the entire rack to be readily 

 taken out, permitting thorough cleaning of the floor beneath. 

 These racks, of course, wear out, but are more easily replaced 

 than a floor, and while the horse stands on wood the sanitary 

 features of the paved floor are procured. Concrete, rough cast 

 or corrugated, vitrified or cork brick, are the common paving 

 materials. 



Concrete floors may be made comparatively dry and wann 

 by insulating the top coat from the rough bottom Avith a layer 

 of tar paper or two coats of tar paint. Cork brick has proven 

 satisfactory in dairy stables but has not yet been much used 

 under horses. 



Drainage. — The drainage of stalls may be by open or cov- 

 ered drains. Common experience is in favor of the open drain, 

 the covered drain becoming stopped up frequently in spite of 

 gratings and traps to prevent such occurrences. Drains consist 

 of either a central or. two lateral troughs, running either from 

 about half way to the front of the stall, or the centre of the box, 

 to a main drain passing in the rear of the stalls. Two lateral 

 drains at the sides of the stall interfere less with the horse stand- 

 ing or getting up and do\Aai than does the central drain. The stall 

 floors should incline slightly toward the drain but not enough 

 to unbalance the standing position of the horse. Undrained 

 stalls, in which absorbent litter is depended upon for the removal 

 of the liquid manure, are most practicable for the average coun- 

 try stable and can be kept sanitary provided an abundance of 

 litter is used. The high cost of bedding materials and the 

 objectionable features of accumulated manure, together with 

 the available sewer connections and possibility of frequent flush- 

 ing, render the drained stable much more desirable in the city. 



Litter for Bedding. — Bedding is used for several purposes : 

 (1) To insure comfort to the horse, thereby inducing him to lie 

 down and save his feet and legs as much as possible ; ( 2 ) to keep 

 the horse clean and free from stable stain ; (3) to absorb and thvis 

 facilitate the removal of liquid manure ; (4) to dilute and thus 



