Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-02
DOMESTIC ANIMALS.
Important Developments in Stable Ac-
 commOdations for Them

Important Developments in Stable Ac- commodations for Them. In stable construction the question or sanitation is comparatively new Advanced stockmen have for years recognized the value to animals of plenty of fresh air without knowing why. 1t Is the aim of Frank X. Con- verse, who has charge of the live stock and dairy departments of the Pan-American exposition. to endeavor to explain this why. When children ask us why, We are puzzled to ex- plain simply because we have never stopped to consider the relation be- tween cause and effect. This is too often the case in our business affairs We know that certain effects follow well known causes. We produce the cause and look for the effect but many times We are disappointed. The req son Is because We have not studied the way of the things We are dealing with.
 In our northern climate warmer sta bles have for years occupied the atten- tiOn of our best farmers and StOckmen. Bank barns have grown out of the de sire to provide warmer and better sta bling. The convenience of having all of our stock under one roof, tucked carefully away from the cold, with plenty of feed overhead. ready at all times to find its way to the managers and feed racks by gravity. proved very allurng to ambitious farmers all over the country.
 Animals housed in these expensive dungeons were not happy and showed their discontinue in watery eyes. lus- terless hair, dry, hot noses and hot. feversh breath. with fretful. quarrel some actions and their inability to grow or fatten. ObServant StOckmen thought the trouble was caused by too great changes in temperature in allow ing them out for an airing or to water each day. To remedy this, water buckets were added fo the stable out fit and the stock confined in an abom- inable atmosphere for weeks at time.
 Atmospheric conditions affect ami mals differently. Beef steers are usu- ally phlegmatic in disposition, paying little attention to ordinary disturb ances. Carefully bred, highly organ jed milch cows. on the other hand. are high strung. nervous and irritable. They are more susceptible to incipient diseases caused by objectionable sur roundngs than any other domestic an- imal.
 Not until progressive, scientific men spent much time and money in investi- gations and experiments was the trou- b1e traced to its true source.
 AnalyZing stable atmosphere led to the detection of harmful bacteria in incredulous numbers. Scientists en- gagged in the work were slow to give out the result of their first investiga- tionS. thinking that conditions under which they were working might be ol,, etfn hut thnt. and while endeavOring to learn the cause. they found conditions peculiar ly favorable to the propagation of the stockman and dairyman's worst en- emy.
 Harmful bacteria delight in dusty atmosphere especially when it is i'm pregnated with moisture. When share of the dampness comes from the moisture laden breath of animals. that are obliged to brea the the same air over and over again, bacteria con- ditiOnS are complete.
 Bank barns are always damp and al- ways dusty. Owing to their construc- ton they never admit direct sunlight in quantities sufficient to be of any use. Sunlight is destructive to all l forms of bacteria and a stable proper ly constructed will admit the direct rays of the sun to every stall. Great progress has been made dur | ing recent years in stable construction along these lines.
 Mir Converse is building a stable on the exposition grounds that will be d model in this respect. In addition to l sanitation and convenience. it will pos sess the further good quality of not | being very expensive.
 Competition is now so keen in every line of business that every facility for producing increased returns at re- duced outlay must be carefully studied by every one who would be success full.
 These model stables will be a source | of the greatest interest to thousands of Pan-American visitors, Dairy products | are each year attracting more atten- ton from the consumer as well as from | the producer and d change. in our methods is recognized as a necessity l by all who have looked into the sub ject. This sentiment is fast building up system of inspection that is com polling unwilling dairymen to keep pace with their more progressive neighbors. Government milk inspection in New York state has resolved itself into q 1 strict censure of dirty, antiQuated methods. City milk supply Is now traced to it's source. the cows examined for condition and health. the stables for ventilation and cleanliness. If in- competency or indifference has led the dairyman to disregard lawful require ments, he is not permitted to send any more milk until he satisfies the inspec- tor that he has mended his ways. This course was made necessary by the rap idly increasing volume of business which is handled by such n cosmopoli- tan class of people, comprising, as it does. all grades of producers from the small dairyman ,tof the ignorant huck- | ster.
 Cleanliness Is required by inspectors first, last and all the time. This mak- ing the right start for cleanliness leads to many virtues. A man who is par tlcular about all utensils, his wagon, stable and himself, will not tolerate a poor or unhealthy COW. He may not