South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-10-06
Stable Ventilation.

A recent look into some city stable has
turned our thoughts to the subject of the
above heading. How horses live over
night, even, in such numbers as are crowd
ed into some places, and closely confined
in SO impure an atmosphere, is certainly q
matter of wonder.
There was q time, we suppose, when
mankind veEy imperfectly understood the
nature of air, the manner in which it sup
ports life, and the causes which destroy its
vitality. But now that science has devel-
oped the facts which ought to instruct US
in this matter, there is no reasonable tx
cuse for a man to torture his animals by
depriving them of a sufficient amount o.
the breath of life.
Air is essential to the existence ofevery
living being, Breathing it over two or
three times exhausts that portion of it
called oxygen, and then the animal dies.
A mouse inclosed in q jar so that no air
could get in or out, seemed to feel no in
convenience for a little time; but as the
oxygen diminished, he was obliged to In
hale another property of the air, nitrogen,
and he grew more and more oppressed,
and soon died of suffocation. The horse
would die under similar circumstances.
The most dreadful example on record of
the destructive consequences of a want of
atmospheric air, exists in the horIid fate
of 146 Englishmen who, in 1856, were i'm
prisoned in a small room, only eighteen
feet square, called the Black Hole of Cal
cutta. There were only two very small
windows in the o and as both were
on the same side, ventilation was impossi-
bic. Soon after the door was closed the
men began to experience heat and intense
thirst. In q short time many became de-
lirious, and at the end of six hours ninety
six were relieved by death from their tor
ments. In the morning only twenty-three
were found alive, and of these only q few
ultimately survived.
Some of the stables we have seen are
not Black Holes, but they are quite Of
fensive ones, although ventilated in some
measure. If the horse-stalls are below
the ground-which is frequently the case
there are openings over the feed.racks
which permit the air to rise upward, pass
ing the horses nostrils or over his head,
on its way. Where the stalls are above
ground, there is sometimes a small hole
cut through the boarding of the building,
if a wooden one, or left in the work, il a
brick one.
This is a very common arrangement,
both in city n country, and is one of
the worst, we think, to which the horse
can be doomed. 1t is true that respira-
lion may proceed and life exist for a time,
in places where the air is impure to a con-
siderable degree, yet as pure air is essen
tlsl to the full enjoyment of health, every
degree Of impurity must be having an eff
feet upon the animal, although it may not
be perceived Immediately.
Ventilation, therefore, as means ofpre-
venting disease, is not only important to
the comfort of The horse, but as a prctec-
tionto our property. We paint our build
ings 10 preserve The wood work. We
house our machines 10 prevent rust from
eating them away. We do both because
it is economical; we save our property by
s o doing. But we force cur horses to
breathe vitiated air, by standing in stables
where our clothing become saturated with
impure doors in s very 81 ort time.
Badly ventilated stalls are usually rather
dark stalls. No animal loves the pure,
clear light better than the horse. 1t is
cruel to deprive him of what he loves so
well, and what never does him harm. His
sail, therefore, should not be so placed as
to bring his head against the side o. the
stable; but, if possible, where he can have
a free and cheerful " lookout" and where
pure air can reach him at all times.
1t will be found greatly to the benefit of
the horse if his feed-box is next to the
barn fl Dor instead of being against the
side of the building. He can be more con-
veniently fed, his droppings will not be
offensive in the floor, and he csn always
have light and pure air when his sur
.rOundings are kept in 8 clearly condition.
Then there is a great pleasure added, of
always looking an old and faithful servant
in the face when you approach himl-
Massachusetts, P~L9ughmdn.