DR. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 201 



CHAPTER XIV. 

 PARTURITION, OR FOALING. 



The period of gestation in the mare is usually about eleven 

 months, although it may vary from ten to thirteen months. As 

 a general thing, horse colts are carried a few days longer than 

 fillies, and as a rule an old mare will carry her foal longer than 

 a young mare. The period of pregnancy with the cow is about 

 nine months; the sheep and goat about five months; the sow four 

 months; the bitch two months; and the cat on an average of eight 

 \veeks. 



SIGNS OF PREGNANCY. 



As a rule, when a mare conceives, heat or the desire for the 

 male is no longer observed, and when brought in the presence 

 of a stallion she is generally unusually vicious. She becomes of 

 a more quiet disposition, especially noticeable in nervous, vicious 

 mares. An increase of fat, with softness and flabbiness of mus- 

 cle, a loss of energy, indisposition for active work, and manifesta- 

 tions of laziness are pretty good signs of pregnancy. The belly 

 gradually enlarges and the udder increases in size as gestation 

 advances. The vulva becomes swollen and the muscles on the 

 hips sag down and the flanks get hollow. Milk forms in the ud- 

 der, and a good sign of foaling time is the formation of a wax-like 

 substance on the ends of the teats two or four days before. The 

 foal can generally be made to kick by giving the mare a drink of 

 cold water. It may also be felt or seen kicking while the mare is 

 eating as well as drinking. There may also be a flow of mucus 

 from the vulva for a day or two before parturition. The animal 



