174 PRACTICAL HINTS ON STABLE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. 
so easily cleaned), should be kept scrupulously clean and free from 
dust, dirt of any kind, or particles of stale food; and the trough 
or stable bucket, whether of stone, wood, zinc, or iron, from 
which he is compelled to drink, should be as clean and sweet 
as care can make them. 
Exterior of stables .—Nor in having purified the interior of the 
stables, with the fittings and utensils, is our task completed, for 
it still remains for us to inspect the exterior of the building with 
its surroundings, and to be careful that no dung or refuse litter 
of any kind be left lying in the vicinity; that the syces do not 
empty the urine baskets in its propinquity (a practice that might 
be prevented entirely by making use of Crowley's filth carts. 
By means of these also gallons of urine might be preserved and 
utilised as manure which are now wasted); that no water be 
allowed to stagnate near it, and that any drains in the neighbour¬ 
hood be kept sweet and clean; also to insist on the removal of 
all obstacles to the passage of salutary currents of fresh air into 
the building. On this account the branches of any adjacent 
trees should be kept lopped to the height of a clear twelve feet 
from the ground. 
Grooming .—These details having been attended to, then 
follows the grooming or cleaning of the animals, and that will 
demand our strictest attention, as the execution of this otfice is 
highly necessary to preserve the skin (that great auxiliary of 
blood purification) in a fit condition to perform all the impor¬ 
tant functions allotted to it. 
The instruments generally in use at home for the purpose of 
dressing horses are: 
( a ) Three brushes. 
(1.) The horse brush. 
(2.) The dandriff (or dandy) brush. 
(3.) The water brush. 
The two former are used for cleaning the surface of the body, 
with the limbs; the latter for washing the feet*and to wet the 
mane with in order to make it lie properly, if inclined to remain 
erect, or to fall on the wrong side. 
Here the horse brush is generally the only one of the three 
allowed, the dandriff and water brushes being seldom seen in 
India. 
(b) The curry comb : the use of this article should be limited 
to the purpose for which it was originally intended, viz. to 
keep the horse brush clean and free from dust, for it is an instru¬ 
ment of torture to many horses, especially if roughly applied to 
their bodies, and the dandriff brush or a strong wisp makes an 
excellent substitute for it in cleaning the coat. 
(e) The mane comb, now almost fallen into disuse. 
