LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 123- 



As progiuincy advances, uiore evident signs develop themselves. The belly 

 becomes quite pendulous and the enlargement of the foetus enables one to 

 feel it through the walls of the abdomen. If the stomach be distended with 

 cold water, the movements of the young creature can often be seen as well as 

 felt. As the period still further advances, and the time for parturition draws 

 nigh, the lips of the vulva become swollen, there is usually a jelly-like dis- 

 charge from the vagina, and the udders become fully charged with milk. 



In the mare, wax gathers upon the ends of the teats. In the cow the 

 points of the hip drop, from the stretching of ligaments, when she is said to 

 be down in her bones, and in the course of a day or two, if everything goes 

 right, the young creature is produced. 



STERILITY OR INFECUNDITY 



Is the unfruitful I'esult of copulation, and as it is often within our power ta 

 remove this condition, it may bo well to notice those causes whicli are of most 

 importance. In some instances it is a permanent condition, for instance it is 

 generally permanent in monstrosities, and hermaphrodites (an animal possessing 

 many of the characteristics of the opposite sex to wliich it actually belongs) iii 

 cattle when twins are born, the one a male, tjie other resembling a female, the 

 latter is called a free-martin, and will not breed, but it is generally an herma- 

 phrodite. There are cases recorded where free-martins have bred, but then of 

 course they were not hermaphrodites. It is also the result of diseases of the 

 generative organs, such as fatty degeneration of the ovaries, or tumors, whicli 

 can not be removed. 



The temporary causes are often the result of premature, or late coition, 

 when the generative organs are not in a proper condition for conception, or in 

 other words, when the animal is not in season ; under-fed or over-fed ani- 

 mals are not so likely to conceive as those in moderate condition. Animals 

 of a very nervous disposition are not so likely to procreate as those in moder- 

 ate condition. It has also been observed that mares accustomed to work hardy 

 active exertion before being put to the male is favorable to conception, and 

 from this fact, the Arabs often gallop their mares to such an extent as to 

 bring them almost breathless before the stallion, and when the act is accom- 

 plished they leave them to stand for a few hours to "cool down." 



Change of climate has also an injurious effect upon the fecundity of an ani- 

 mal, sometimes putting it altogether in abeyance, at others only rendering the 

 animal barren for a time. 



But in all cases of infecundity, a careful examination of the generative 

 organs should be made, for many cases of apparent infecundity are due to 

 malformation of the mouth of the womb, or some obstacle which can be 

 removed, and almost valueless animals are thus made worth hundreds or even 

 thousands of dollars. If the condition is due to the presence of a tumor, this 

 can generally be removed without much risk to the animal. But the diffi- 

 culty is very" often due to the closing of the mouth of the womb, and this can 

 be overcome by an operation which, if skillfully performed, is not dangerous. 



The animal must be secured, if a mare by the side line, if a cow by fasten- 

 ing the two hind feet together, though not too tight. The hand and arm 

 should then be well oiled with, say olive oil, the fingers and thumb, being 

 drawn into as small a compass as possible, should now be introduced into the 

 vagina, and the obstacle felt for; if the fault be at the mouth of the 

 womb, it will be found wholly or partially closed, but it may be dilated by 

 gently insinuating the tips of the fingers until the cavity of the womb is 



