Huntsville gazette., 1881-08-27
The MalOd0rs of Stables.

The Chairman of the Committee on
Hygiene of the Medical Society, while
on visit to the West during the chol-
era epidemic of 1873, had his attention
called to the savory and wholesome
condition of even the commonest Louis
vile livery stables. They were as dry
and sweet as a barn. Sawdust was
used in large quantities, sometimes in
the horse and cow stalls; at others only
in the pathways or passages between
them. All the boards were clean and
dry. II is seldom that anyone can 60
into even what is called well-appoint-
ed horse Or COW stable without disgust,
but in these common places there was
no occasion for any.
On subsequent visit to Memphis, on
the yellow fever question, the mule pens
and yards were found covered with saw
dust nearly q foot deep. The animals
looked sleek and comfortable. Since
these years the Committee on Hygiene
has been almost unremitting in IFS en-
deavOrs to have the maladors of stables
and other scourges corrected. Dirty
stables cause far more injury to the
robust and well and intellectually more
to the sick and delicate than is generally
supposed, to say nothing of their unmit-
igated nastiness. Very many of the es-
tablishments, including the stables of
milk dealers, are always kept as sloven-
ly and filthy as if they belonged to the
lowest and most debased classes, and
were not surrounded by mansions in
which the comforts of life are absolute
necessaries. Many cow-stables in Con-
necticut and other country places are
now literally supplied with sawdust
with great benefit to the milk, cream
and butter. Every ordinary constable
is unfit for any civilized human being to
60 into. The old superstition. born of
ignorance and long tolerance of filth,
that the smells of horses or COW stables is
wholesome, is very far from true. The
majority of hostlers are ill, and if they
have not good food and drink and much
pure air elsewhere would soon fall VIC
Tins to their dirty avocations.
Sawdust and shavings are thrown
into the furnaces of wood factories in
a most slovenly and wasteful way, pro-
ducing large volumes of dense black
smoke, which is oppressive to all in
warm or muggy weather, and is espec-
tally damaging to those who suffer with
diseases Of the eyes, throat, lungs or
heart. An immense quantity of fuel is
daily wasted by the careless stoking of
wood shavings and sawdust, and it is
rather more difficult to prevent smoke
while burning shavings than sawdust.
There should be no such thing as foul
smelling or disagreeable smelling horse
or cow stable in this broad land, as the
remedies are so cheap and easy of ap-
plication. The ravages of typhoid and
typho-malarial fevers would be quickly
checked, and the defilement of wells
and drinking water, and milk diluted
with it would soon be ended. Diph-
liberia and other malignant throat dis
eases and foul air bronchitis, consump-
ton and pneumonia would no longer be
heard of. Great epidemics of yellow
and typhus fever could not arise, and
the ravages of malignant smallpox and
scarlet fever would be greatly lessened.
That any civilized and self-respecting
people should have so long not only en-
dured, but fostered the intolerable nui-
sances and unmitigated beastliness
which has grown up about horse and
cow stables and the shrines of cloacina
is almost incomprehensible.-Cor. ". 7.
Herald.