284 VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



depth of groove in the brick during its manufacture, and 

 secure sufficient fall for drainage by means of the grooves, 

 instead of placing the floor at an angle. 



The greatest ingenuity has been displayed by stable con- 

 structors in arranging their paving bricks in various 

 patterns and devices; sometimes they run diagonally 

 towards the centre, sometimes at right angles, and occa- 

 sionally herring bone pattern. From a point of utility this 

 is quite unnecessary, but it perhaps appeals to the aesthetic 

 sense. Such conditions are only found as a rule in high 

 class stables, and the constructors always claim some 

 practical advantage for the pattern adopted which does not 

 exist. The only exception to this rule is in connection with 



Fig. 88. — Vitrified Paving-brick with Single Groove. 



the brick with a single groove (Fig. 88). It is obvious if 

 this is to prevent slipping, it must be placed at right angles 

 to the stall. 



The floorings we have spoken of have been ideal from a 

 sanitary standpoint, but they only represent a fraction of 

 the floors employed in stables. The usual one in poor 

 stables is the round cobble stone set in mortar, rough to 

 walk over, soon wobbles on its bed of earth, sinks, allows 

 urine and liquid excreta to find their way between the 

 joints, with the result that the earth beneath turns the 

 colour of ink. The constant saturation causes the floor to 

 further subside, and in such a stable in addition to the 

 gases of respiration are added those of decomposition, for 



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