The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-05-25
OFFICE IN HooPER's BRICK

IL they breathe air imprcgnated with large
proportion OF these gases, they sickcn imme-
diately; the disease most likely to DO pro-
duced Is pneumonia, or inflammation Of the
lungs, rs the poison Is applied directly to the
lungs.
Now what provision is made in modern
tight barns to get rid Of these gasesi Why,
there ID yentilator on the top Of the barn,
but how are these gases to get to tho top oi
the barn, since large proportion OF them
are heavier than atmospheric airf The car
bonic and sulphurous gases, which are more
abundant than all Others. arc heavier than
air, and consequently will not ascend an
monia Is light and would hy away. but the
carbonic and sulphuruus gases, having q
strong affinity for ammonia, seize the fugi'
tive, and by chemical action new com.
poun is formed heavier than air, which, Oi
course must remain, unless there Is some un'
derground passage by which IL can escape
II there Is no place for its escape, these gas
es accumulate until the barn becomes filled
with them, the hay is impregnated, and the
stock has 10 eat rs well Us breathe this nox-
ious matter, and the trouble Is worse II the
stock is high led. First, because high fed
animals have greater amount oil blood, the
blood vessels are fuller, and consequently q
greater tendency 10 congestion. Secondly,
because the excrements of high fed animals
evolve much greater amount OF gases than
that Of others, and the difficulty OF ventila-
ton is increased by the fact that these gases
are so nearly Of the weight of air. If they
were all light like carburetted hydrogen,
they would soon escape at the top; or IL
they were heavy like water, or even pure
carbonic acid gas, they would, in most barns
find cracks sufficiently large to run out NEAR
the bottom but as the facts prove that the
gases are nearly of the same weight. rs air,
am led to the following conclusions:
First, that the walls Of barns should never
be clapboarded; then there will be gentle
current constantly passing through the barn,
and the gases passing out of the cracks on
the leeward side; second, that the stable for
horses and cattle should extend from one end
of the barn TO the other, with door ut each
end, both of which should generally be kept
open excepting in severe cold weather and in
storms. have found By experience that q
horse kept up in small tight stable will
commence coughing in very few days.
Cattle do not suffer with the cold, (un.
less the cold Is very extremely II they
are in good health, are well fed and have a
dry, clean stall, and plenty Of good air to
breathe. The lungs OF an OK will manufac-
turo large amount Of animal heat. l have
known a COW to be wintered with no other
shelter than an open shed, more than two
hundred miles farther north than Massachu.
sets, and she gave milk all winter, and came
out well in the spring. Now, If 1t should
prove that the sickness among the cattle
Is not caused by tight barns and high feeding
vet should not believe that II was contagi'
Gus pneumonia, for that would be new
thing under the sun. cannot learn that
there ever was such disease among cattle as
contagious pneumonia. / intended to say
something OF the treatment Of pneumonia,
but have already spun so Tonga yarn you
will bo impatient before you get through
reading it, therefore l will clCso.
SrEPuES ADAMS.
West Ncw6cld, Me-, April 6, 1860.