910 VETERINARY HYGIENE 



The official type of stall for military horses has a two- 

 foot passage between the ship's side and the rear of the 

 stalls, so that a man can go in and clean them out ; but 

 this is not required. No passage is needed behind the 

 horses in order to clean the stalls ; where a passage is 

 wanted and where it is of vital importance is in the gang- 

 way, and here it cannot be too wide. 



The height of the breast bar and haunch piece (if one is 

 used) are important ; a high breast bar with a small horse 

 means injury to the neck, while as the manger is hung on 

 the breast bar, it is obvious if the manger is too high the 

 animal can only feed with difficulty. If the breast bar is 

 made 8 inches in depth and 2 inches in thickness, its lower 

 edge should be 2 feet 10 inches from the platform on which 

 the horse stands, and the haunch bar should be 2J feet from 

 its lower edge to the platform. The side partitions or bars 

 should be fitted at the same height as the breast bar. 



Mule stalls are arranged to carry three or four animals ; 

 the width depends upon the number carried in each stall, 

 but not less than 2 feet should be allowed each mule of 

 medium height, 2 to 4 inches more will be required for 

 larger mules. The depth of the stall will vary with the 

 size of the mule, from 6 to 7 feet will generally be found 

 sufficient. The fitting of breast and side bars is lower than 

 for horses, 6 inches lower is sufficient for most animals, 

 but it is a question of the height of the mule ; the position 

 of the breast bar is most important, for if too high their 

 necks get damaged. 



Valuable horses are frequently carried in specially made 

 horse boxes, which are slung on board and then lashed to 

 the deck. They are padded and well made, and placed on 

 the upper deck with an awning overhead to keep off the 

 sun and rain. 



Mangers. — The mangers are hung as before mentioned 

 on the breast bar ; galvanized iron is used on military 

 transports and has many advantages over wood. A horse 

 on board ship has so much spare time that a wooden 

 manger is a temptation to eat. Mules invariably eat away 



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