1 68 AGRICULTURE. 



contains some refuse of their bodies. If we shut up an animal 

 in a close room it will smother. The animal must have fresh 

 air. Proper ventilation is necessary for the good health of all 

 animals. Exposure to cold draughts, however, must be care- 

 fully avoided. 



THE SKIN. The small capillaries come out close to the 

 skin, which is filled with pores or tiny openings. We may say 

 that animals breathe through their skin, and through the pores 

 of the skin rid themselves of a large amount of used-up 

 or refuse matter. We help the animal, therefore, by keeping 

 its skin clean. When we curry or rub down a horse or a cow 

 we do for it what we do for ourselves in taking a bath. A 

 clean skin is necessary to the health of an animal. We should 

 keep in mind that every pore is the outlet of a little drain 

 whereby the refuse of an animal is carried out of its system. 

 If these little drains are choked up sickness may follow ; if 

 they are kept open the system is helped very much in its 

 cleansing process. The regular and proper currying and 

 brushing of a horse means more work from the horse ; the 

 currying and brushing down of a cow means more milk. 

 Cleanliness always pays. Science and practice are agreed upon 

 this point. 



THE KIDNEYS. The blood in its circulation goes to all 

 the organs of the body, building them up and supplying ma- 

 terial for their various uses. All parts of the body are con- 

 stantly changing ; some quite rapidly, as the brains ; some 

 quite slowly, as the bones. The old portions that are being 

 replaced have to be removed. We have just above stated 

 that through the lungs and skin carbonic gas and water are 

 constantly being thrown off. But there are many other sub- 

 stances, such as the nitrogen compounds and the mineral com- 

 pounds, which cannot escape by way of the lungs and skin. 

 How are these got rid of? The kidneys, which in human 

 beings lie below and behind the stomach, near the back, are 



