2 Stable Management and the Prevention of Disease 



open lines, and were greatly distressed by the heat. One fell 

 dead from pulmonary apoplexy. Nearly all of them became 

 very thin, and the lives of several of the weakest were only 

 saved by their being placed in the shoeing shed and under the 

 verandas of the workshops and storehouses. After being thus 

 sheltered for several days, there was always a marked im- 

 provement in them, and when they had partially recovered 

 they were removed to make room for others. This system was 

 continued until the end of the hot season ; but many months 

 elapsed before the horses entirely recovered their strength and 

 condition. I may mention that for some time before the rains 

 commenced in that year, the temperature used to be 118° 

 Fahrenheit in the shade every day late in the afternoon. 



Protection to the Spine. 



During exposure to a tropical sun, protection to the spine 

 of both horse and man is of great importance. Among horses 

 the best practicable method of affording this protection is to 

 fold the blankets so as to make eight thicknesses of cloth 

 and strap them in such a way as to cover the back from the 

 shoulders to the hips. 



Protection to the head also would be useful, and the 

 horses of many private individuals in Calcutta and Bombay 

 have sunshades fixed to the bridles when at work in harness. 



Peotection from Wind and Eain. 



Unstabled horses are liable to be chilled by either cold winds 

 or by the torrents of rain that fall during the monsoon, and 

 should always be protected by two blankets when it is 

 actually raining. If these are of good material, the under 

 blanket will be found almost dry, owing to the warmth of 

 the skin causing the rapid evaporation of any water that 

 trickles through the upper one. 



During what are called breaks in the rains, which last 

 from a few hours to a few days, although the temperature of 

 the air in the shade is less than before the commencement of 

 the monsoon, the rays of the sun feel hotter than ever^ there 



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