HYGIENE AND SANITATION. 1 7 



■drain, but this should hz so arr;ui,s:^jd that the pjiut of discharge 

 should be situated at least six feet from the outer wall of the 

 stable; taking for granted that the floor of the stable is paved 

 with a suitable material that is impervious to moisture, a free sluic- 

 ing of water will ensure cleanliness and the due washing awaj' of 

 all excrementitious material. 



Ventilation and drainage being secured as near perfection as 

 possible, it is very important to the well being of horses that they 

 be abundantly supplied with /(^/i^, and if you cannot do better 

 than windows in the walls, let them be arranged high up; but 

 better than all are the vertical lights obtained from the roof; but 

 even these are not without their objection lest the sun's rays 

 should rest too fully upon the horses at midday; this, however, 

 may be obviated by having the louvre doafds replaced by g/ass in 

 the same form, and if the glass be ground or fluted the rays of 

 the sun will be broken so as not to rest directly on the inmates of 

 the stable. A good light is absolutely essential, not only for the 

 sake of general health, but especially for the preservation of the 

 •eyesight. 



As it is of the first importance to the health of the horse that 

 lie should not be exposed to damp, a precaution which is only too 

 often overlooked, it is very necessary that the site and aspect of 

 the stable should be carefully and properly arranged; nothing, of 

 course, beats a good gravel soil, but if the locality does not enjoy 

 the advantage of this kind of soil, then the place should be well 

 drained to a depth of three or four feet, and the floor of the 

 stable should be raised at least one foot from the level of the 

 ground and allowed to rest upon a concrete base. In the cases of 

 Tiorses trained for racing, hunting and trotting, with whom a per- 

 fectly-sound condition of the respiratory organs is an essential 

 point, the adoption of open fireplaces is a great advantage, not so 

 much in use for the sake of ensuring warmth, as to keep the stable 

 dry and to render the ventilation more perfect, as well to maintain 

 an even temperature during the night; of course horses can be 

 kept warm in their bodies by the use of clothing, but no amount 

 of clothing will keep out the moisture and cold which is so fre- 

 ■quentl}' experienced in districts where rapid climatic changes take 

 place, and proves so disastrous in many instances, though it is to 

 be regretted in the interest of owners, that trainers and stud 



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