The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-11-30
STABLE HYGIENE.

4
fort of horses during the long
winters in the north and
! - northwest. A most excellent
article bearing on the subject indicated in
| the above caption was read by j. W. Sal
| lade, V. S. before the Schuylkill Valley Vet
Urinary Medical Association at it's last meet
ing, and we reproduce it that our readers
may profit by the many valuable hints
given.
Stable hygiene may be said to be the
science OF the preservation of the health Of
our domestic animals. But it has much
wider significance, for upon the health Of
our animals often depends the health of
our families and Of ourselves.
The subject therefore concerns us not
only in monetary sense, in proportion to
the amount OF money invested in our live
stock, but the health of community often
depends upon the care and treatment given
our dumb friends-the animals we employ
in and about the farm, and whose produce
enters so largely into food for the consump-
ton of the human family.
When we consider that many of the most
common and virulent diseases to which
human flesh is heir are directly attributable
to the consumption of these products, and
that many Of the ailments Of domestic
animals are directly and indirectly trans.
Missile to the human family-in fact,
have their origin there and are SO trans
mitted-we can readily perceive why the
utmost care and prudence should be exer-
csed in the management of domestic ami.
mails. Large sums of money are annually
expended by the government in inyestiga-
ting and stamping out contagious disease
affecting domesticated animals, and for a
two-fold purpose, as already indicated.
| First, to prevent the great destruction o.
property, and secondly, to maintain an
equilibrium of health in the human family
! The lahoIS of the Bureau of Animal Indus
try are most comprehensive, and vet are
not sufficiently far. reaching to attain the
desired results. 1t remains for bodies Il
this kind and kindred organizations, as
individual effort, to carry on the great
work and complete it. 1t is the province
of the veterinarian and the medical practi-
toner to ferret out the causes and TO pro-
vide the remedies for all abnormal cOndi.
tons that give rise to disease; and it is the
duty of the cattle-owner to practice strict
hygiene, TO exercise care in tie deduction
preparation and sale, so as to render hi.
fam products wholesome instead OF daL
gerous.
Stable hygiene embraces ventilation
disinfection, clean surfaces and surround
ings, proper bedding, grooming, exercise
feed, water, etc. Too much stress can no
be laid on proper attention to all these
things.
Proper ventilation is too frequently over
looked, not only 10y farmers, but by owners
of animals generally. The system gencr
ally in vogue is to close up all crevces
doors, windows (if any, and to labo
under the mistaken idea that all pure al
must be shut off in order to keep the stable
warm. Animals are huddled togethe
promiscuously in stables, the size of whicl
is inadequate to furnish sufficient oxygen
and the result is that the animals are com
PEELED to breathe over many times the sam,
vitiated air, thus destroying all the life
giving principle and rendering the BLOOD
impure and laying the foundation of mum
erous evils, among them being a condition
of the system favorable for germs and mi
crobes to propagate and pursue their deadl,
operations. A stable should be high ant
roomy and provided with ventilators in tn
ceiling, or top ventilation, to carry OFF tn
obnoxious gases, such as carbonc acid ga
and other etfete and putrelactiye matter
Where such ventilators are not provided
and the majority of barns are not so con
structed, other means of admitting fresl
air should he provided. A cold stable
even an open barn, is more healthful thai
an alright one, or one approaching tina
condition. In cases of pneumonia and othe
respiratory diseases the great mistake o
closing up every crack and thus shuttin.
off that great remedial agent, oxygen il
too frequently made. In the lungs car
bonic acid gas, deadly agent, is given of
and oxygen taken in to render the blood
pure and arterial, and if functionally i'm
paired, unless pure air is supplied you
case invariably proves fatal. Therefore thu
necessity of pure air in disease, and il
order to maintain a healthy condition o
the body the same rule must be observed
The object Of hygiene is, as already stated
to preserve the health. A direct draugh
should be avoided and air admitted in sucl
way as to furnish an ample supply o
pure atmosphere without subjectng thu
animal to direct draught. In those case
proper clothing, bandages, etc, play al
important part. Unless this condition j.