36 DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



contains in it an exceedingly large quantity of hartshorn ; and 

 not only so, but that, influenced by the heat of a' crowded 

 stable, and possibly by other decompositions that are going for- 

 ward at the same time, this ammoniacal vapor begins to be 

 rapidly given out almost immediately after the urine is voided." 



2. Litter. The facts just stated in reference to the plenti- 

 ful escape of ammoniacal gas from the urine, show the necessity 

 of frequently removing the litter which is soon saturated with 

 it. It rapidly putrefies, emitting noisome odors and contami- 

 nating the air. Everything hastening decomposition should be 

 carefully removed where life and health are to be preserved. 

 Litter that has been much wetted and has begun to decay 

 should be swept out every morning. 



No heap of fermenting dung should be suffered to remain 

 during the day in the corner or any part of the stable. 



3. Grooming. Of this little need be said to the farmer in 

 reference to his working horses, since custom, and apparently 

 without ill effect, has allotted to them so little of the comb 

 and brush. " The animal that is worked all day and turned 

 out at night," Youatt says, " requires little more to be done to 

 him than to have the dirt brushed off his limbs. Regular 

 grooming, by rendering his skin more sensible to the alteration 

 of temperature and the inclemency of the weather, would be 

 prejudicial. The horse that is altogether turned out, needs no 

 grooming. The dandruff or scurf, which accumulates at the 

 roots of the hair, is a provision of nature to defend him from 

 the wind and the cold. 



" It is to the stabled horse, highly fed and little or irreg- 

 ularly worked, that grooming is of so much consequence. 

 Good rubbing with the brush or the curry-comb opens the 

 pores of the skin, circulates the blood to the extremities of 

 the body, produces free and healthy perspiration, arid stands in 

 the room of exercise. No horse will carry a fine coat without 

 either unnatural heat or dressing. They both effect the same 

 purpose; they both increase the insensible perspiration; but 

 the first does it at the expense of health and strength, while 



