MEMOIRS OF A VETERINARY SURGEON. 199 
disease that is exacerbated by the opposite state of the 
weather. 
I very well remember, a customer of mine had for many 
years his stable built immediately upon a large horizontal 
boiler, that was continually filled with boiling water, to 
supply steam to work the machinery in a large mechanic’s 
shop, and iron-foundry. I have frequently gone into this 
stable when the dry hot air was most oppressive, and could 
not have been at a lower temperature than 90° Fahr. The 
horse, standing day and night in this stable, except when at 
work, never ailed anything, nor had any internal bodily ail¬ 
ment, but his fore feet w 7 ere tender naturally, and this hot 
floor aggravated the evil. 
Wherever it can be done I strongly advise a thorough 
current of air right through the stable; it contributes largely 
to its wholesome state, it tends to dry the ground surface 
and the air, and creates a freshness and sweetness in the place. 
If neither the thermometer nor the hygrometer, however, 
will afford you the requisite knowledge of the cause of any extra 
amount of sickness in the stable, you must ascertain by the 
sepometer the exact amount in the air of carbonizing matter, 
which is often the subtle propagator of disease. Compare 
your observations with other results ascertained in experi¬ 
ments in other stables known to be healthy. By this means 
you will see your enemy face to face, and be enabled to 
bring to bear a w r ell selected artillery, the proper discharge 
of which w ill prostrate him under your feet. 
Having ascertained that the stable is damp and the air 
foul, as is nearly ahvays the case in new stables, I strongly 
advise that a stove be fixed in the interior, and a good bright 
fire be kept burning the whole of the day and let out at 
night: this may be continued for some weeks if the weather 
is w interly and damp; the fire draws into it and burns all 
the raw 7 damp air, the miasma and exhalations from the 
damp, cold ground, timber in boskins, damp walls, &c., and 
then when the air is sufficiently dry the fir can be dis¬ 
continued. 
THE SEPOMETER. 
This is a most ingenious and scientific instrument, invented 
by R. Angus Smith, Esq., Ph.D., F.R.S., of Manchester, and 
promises to be very useful in the hands of the sanitary 
economist. It is used for the purpose of measuring the 
gross amount of organic and other oxidizable matter in 
the air. It is not pretended that it shall as yet show what 
