THE H0E8E. 
37 
any rate, be at issue with us, though the total or partial blindness of 
their horses should have taught them better; for from this cause in 
general springs the blindness of the animal, which, by nature, is no 
more predisposed to blindness than is his owner. And not only does a 
dark stable affect the sight of a horse, but his general health also 
especially, as is often the case, if he be immured in his stable for davs 
together. Light is just as essential to a healthy condition as food itself 
and an animal can no more thrive without the one than the other’ 
i he man who invented dark stables was no doubt the progenitor of 
Inin who mvented the barbarous practice of docking and nicking horses’ 
Die next thing to be considered is ventilation; and this — as stables 
are commonly ventilated, or rather not ventilated— is believed to be of 
no moment whatever. In many old country stables we find the door 
made of two portions, the upper one opening whilst the lower one is 
made fast. I his is very well for farm stables; but this construction is 
not adapted for those where horses of the higher class are kept With 
a door of this description, open at the top, and a lofty window at the 
other end, open at the top also, a draught takes place which is above 
the horses back, and will ventilate the stable thoroughly, especially if 
the stable be lofty, as ,t always should be, though it is in general con- 
structed so as to have a hay-loft over it— a great convenience, no doubt 
—but one which should not be permitted to reduce the height of the 
stable itse f to some seven or eight feet; in which circumscribed space 
a team of horses are often confined for the night, under the necessity of 
breathing the same air as they have expired. To expect horses to be 
heaUhy or sound under such a condition is to expect an impossibility. 
Ventilation. A little consideration will show the importance of per- 
fect ventilation. The air which the horse expires is as totally different 
a substance from that which he inhales as wood is from iron He in- 
hales atmospheric air, and the constituents of this pass through his 
lungs, and into his blood ; he expires carbonic acid gas, one of th<? gases 
most inimical to animal life, as any man may convince himself wh<? will 
go down into an old unused well. If this deadly gas be not carried off 
by proper ventilation, it becomes mixed with the atmospheric air of the 
stable, and is again inhaled, to the great injury of the animal's health. 
I he greatest care is also requisite that it should be thoroughly carried 
oft, and this can only be done as it comes out from the animal’s body • 
when cold, it is heavier than atmospheric air, and sinks to the floor of 
the stable, in which case it is not so easily got rid ot; but may lay the 
foundation of diseases innumerable, and will certainly shorten the use- 
u ness, it not the life, of the animal. From this, as much as from any 
other cause, horses may truly be said not to live out half their days. 
A thorough ventilation is as necessary in the winter as the summer, 
and there is infinitely less risk of injuring the horse by cold than by 
allowing him to breathe expired air over again. If accustomed to proper 
entilation, he will never take cold from any judicious means adopted 
to promote his hea th and comfort. Pure air in winter is as necessary 
as in summer; whilst in the summer the more that can be admitted 
to cool the stable the better. The building should, then, be so con- 
