STERILITY 121 



turbs the system. Hence very violent inflammations 

 of important internal organs (bowels, kidneys, bladder, 

 lungs) may induce abortion. Profuse diarrhea, whether 

 occurring from the reckless use of purgatives, the con- 

 sumption of irritants in the food, or a simple indigestion 

 is an effective cause. No less so is acute indigestion 

 with evolution of gas in the intestines (bloating). The 

 presence of stone in the kidneys, uterus, bladder or urethra 

 may induce so much sympathetic disorder in the womb 

 as to induce abortion. In exceptional cases wherein 

 mares come in heat during gestation, service by the 

 stallion may cause abortion. Blows or pressure on the 

 abdomen, rapid driving or riding of the pregnant mare, 

 especially if she is soft and out of condition from idleness, 

 the brutal use of the spur or whip, and the jolting and 

 straining of travel by rail or boat are prolific causes. 

 Bleeding the pregnant mare, a painful surgical opera- 

 tion, and the throwing and constraint resorted to for an 

 operation are other causes. Traveling on heavy muddy 

 roads, slips and falls on ice, and jumping must be added. 

 "The stimulation of the abdominal organs by a full drink 

 of iced water may precipitate a miscarriage, as may expo- 

 sure to a cold rainstorm or a very cold night after a warm 

 day. Irritant poisons that act on the urinary or genera- 

 tive organs, such as Spanish flies, rue, savin, tansy, cotton- 

 root bark, ergot of rye or other grasses, the smut of 

 maize and other grain, and various fungi in musty fodder 

 are additional causes. Frosted food, indigestible food 

 and, above all, green succulent vegetables in a frozen 

 state, have proved effective factors, and filthy stagnant 

 water is dangerous. Low condition in the dam and 

 plethora have in opposite ways caused abortion, and hot, 

 relaxing stables and lack of exercise strongly induce it. 



