FIRE HORSES. 247 
stalls are in the main room where the wagon is kept, 
and at the back of the building is an entrance, the 
doors of which are apt to be open. The animals are 
thus exposed to strong and frequent draughts, very 
bad for horseflesh; and they are also continually an- 
noyed by the noise, by the glare of lights kept burn- 
ing all night, and by the coming and going of visitors 
and officials. The object of this arrangement is, of 
course, to save time; but if the horses stood six feet 
farther back, and were protected by a partition, prob- 
ably only one or two seconds more would be required 
to bring them to the pole. Moreover, they are so 
often out at night that the suggestion already made 
in regard to engine horses applies with more force to 
those engaged in this service, namely, that bedding 
should be left under them at all times. In the South 
End house the stalls are open at both ends, so that 
the horses stand in a thoroughfare for cold breezes ; 
and this was formerly the case in the other station. 
In the latter house there were for eight years a very 
tine pair of grays, who were sold, not for unsoundness, 
but because they were worn out by want of rest. 
One of them also became vicious. The fact is, that, 
with the possible exception of man, the horse is the 
most nervous animal in the world, and the least able to 
endure continual and multiplied annoyances. These 
grays were iast seen drawing a hack, and they have 
probably long since passed to some lower and more 
painful stage of equine degradation. 
Connected with a fire department there is usually 
a veterinary hospital, and in Boston this is situated 
on Tremont Street; being part of the building in 
which a ladder truck is stationed. It consists of a 
