Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-08-08
Care Of Horses in the Summer.

Probably tho principal reason why
The life OF horse Is reduced TO one
half the natural period is the exacting
work and the weakening rigors of the
summer season. No doubt faults in
feeding have their effect to add weight
to the former, but certainly the most
trouble arises from the impure air, the
clogged-up skin, and the loss of rest
from the annoyance of flies In the or
dinary farm stable. Just now there Is
general excitement in regard to that
terrible disease, glanders, among
horses. And 1t is somewhat surprising
at first thought that more of this dis
ease should be found in Kansas than
In any other State at the present time.
But one who knows what miserable
novels are made to serve rs stables for
farm horses in Kansas, and how ener-
vating and depressing to the physical
system the occasional hot weather is,
and In how many cases the water supply
is exceedingly short and bad, the won
der ceases, and on the other hand sur
prise may well be felt that there is not
more of this disease than there is even
in that State, where pure air, pure
water, and comfortable shelter are as
easily provided rs elsewhere. This
disease is essentially one of blood
poisoning by absorbed pestiferous mat
ter, from the air chiefly. 1T used to be
exceedingly prevalent in military
stables, where horses were crowded as
closely as possible. But as sanitary
science gradually worked its way into
the cavalry stables and an abundant
supply of pure air was provided, and
cleanliness was enforced in every
way, CHAMBERS disappeared. and now
it is one OF the rarest diseases
among these horses. So 1t would be
among farm horses If the same reason
able care were exercised to practice
cleanliness, to provide roomy and we'll
ventilated stables, and to secure fresh
and pure water from the wells for the
horses, use.
The most fatal impurities In drinking
water are what are known as organic
albuminoids, which produce ammonia.
When water polluted with this waste
matter is taken into the stomach the
poison is absorbed into the blood and
produces various diseases. Tho water
saken into the system is very small
1nantity as compared with the air taken
nto the lungs. Some idea of the i'm
portance to the well-being of horse Of
pure air may be gained from the fact
that the absorphve surface of the lungs
is about twelve times as extensive as that
of the whole skin. this surface being di-
vided up among millions of exceedingly
small air cells which are continually at
work absorbing oxygen from the air
and discharging carbonaceous and nj
trogenous matter. When with this fact,
we consider how the atmosphere of q
stable is usually polluted by the pun
gent, poisonous vapors OF decomposing
excrement, liquid and solid, and which
are breathed over and over again dur
ing the hot summer nights, and how
carefully the fresh air is excluded, or
how the air admitted is fouled by ma
nure heaps or yards outside, we may
nave little wonder that the horses are
gradually poisoned and their lives
shortened one-half With this evil,
there are the clogged-up skin, the pores
of which. infinite in number for the
purpose of discharging foul matter
from the blood, are closed and prevent
the myriads of flies which torment the
wretched beasts all night long and so
weaken the nervous system already
greatly depressed. Thinking of how
we should suffer under these circum-
stances, we may realize how our equally
sensitives horses are injured, and will
bo induced, for our own profit at least,
to provide our beasts, as far as we pos
sibly can, with every comfort at this
season.-N. Y. Times.