Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-10-12
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
Cd into some places, and closely confined
In 50 impure an atmosphere, is certainly a
matter of wonder.
There was time, we suppose, when
mankind ve1y iDptrfectly understood the
nature Of air, the manner in which it cup.
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 eX.
cuse for ~ man to torture his animals by
doprving them Of sufficient amount o,
the breath Of life.
Air is esse initial to the existence of every
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 a jar so that no air
could get in or out, seemed to feel no in
convenience for a little time; but as the
OK, gen 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 want of
atmospheric air, exists in the horrid fate
OF 146 Englishtnen woo, in 1856, were i'm
prlsOned III small room, only eighteen
tet t square, called the Black Hole of Cal
cutta There were only two very small
windows in the room. 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
thir-t. In a short time mAuY became de-
lirious, and at the end Of six hours ninety
six were relieved by dea b from thsir tor
m~nts. In the morning only twenty. three
were found alive, and of these only few
ultimately survived.
Some Of the stables We have seen are
not Black Holes, bat they are quite Of
tensive ones, although ventilated in some
measure. Ii 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 nostiils 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 wooden one, or left in the work, it
brick one.
This is very common arrangement,
both in city and coubtry, and is one of
1AC "Oiot, VIC OA1AA, w WAlCu CuC AOE6C
can be doomed. 1t is true that respira-
ton may proceed and life exist for time,
in places where the ar is impure to con-
siderable degree, yet as pure air is essen
tel to the full enjoyment Of health, every
degree of impurity must be having an ef
feet upon the animal, although it may not
be perceived Immediately.
Ventilation, therefore as a me ans ofpre-
venting disease, is not only important to
the comfort Of The horse, but as prctec-
tionto our property. We paint our build
ings to preserve the wood work. We
house our machines TO prevent rust from
eating them away. We do both because
it is economical; we save our property by
50 doing But we force our horses to
breathe vitiated air, by standing in stables
where our clOtnlng DeCU.uc saturated with
impure oaors in very : 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. Ills
all, therefore, should not be 50 place as
to bring his head apain>t the side Of the
stable; but if p ssible, where he can have
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 Il or instead Of b: ing against the
side of the building. He Can be more con-
vtnicntly fed, his droppings will not he
offensive in the floor, and he can always
have light and pure air when his sur
roundings are kept in a clearly condition.
Then there is great pleasure added, of
always looking all old and faithful servant
in the face when you approach him!-
Massachusetts, Pl0ugAman7a.