5 DECEMBER 1903, Page 30

"OPEN-AIR TREATMENT" FOR ANIMA TS.

[To THE EDITOR Of THE " SPECTATOR."1 SIE,—I was pleased to see your article, "'Open-Air Treat- ment' for Animals," in the Spectator of October 31st, especially as regarding the paragraph repeating the warning of Sir William Flower. There is no doubt that to enable horses to approach perfect health under civilisation, stables must stand well above the surrounding earth level, have an impermeable standing surface, be well ventilated with plenty of air-holes and large windows giving plenty of light, and have a sound, easily cleansed drainage system. By far the greater number of so-called common colds and chills in horses are caused by placing them in close stables after having been turned out in the open, not by turning them out in the open from warm stables. Later on in your article quarter- evil is mentioned as resembling anthrax. Quarter-evil has no resemblance to anthrax at all. The supposed resemblance is an old idea now quite exploded. The disease is very prevalent in some parts of the United Kingdom. Outbreaks can now happily be almost entirely prevented by vaccination with quarter-evil vaccine.—I am, Sir, &c.,

M.R.C.V.S.