220 BREEDING 



make good horses, they must bask in the sunshine of summer, and receive 

 an abundant supply of the rich milk and ripe herbage it affords. More- 

 over, growth, to be attended with substantial development, must be con- 

 tinuous, and uninterrupted by the poverty and inclemency of both spring 

 and autumn. 



Light land districts where the soil is dry, the climate temperate, and 

 the site protected, are the most congenial to early produce, but under the 

 most favourable conditions early foals should only be turned out when 

 the sun shines, and where shelter, in the shape of a comfortable shed, is 

 provided. 



THE FOAL AT BIRTH 



The bowels of the foal at birth contain a considerable amount of faecal 

 matter, consisting of the solid remains of bile, and other secretions thrown 

 out by the mucous membrane of the intestines during foetal development. 

 Usually this is discharged soon after birth as a soft greenish or yellowish 

 brown fseculent substance. In some cases, for reasons which we cannot 

 assign, this material becomes hard and dry, and is unduly retained. 



The foal is noticed to keep raising the tail, arching the back, and posing 

 as if to dung, and now and again straining without effect. Here a little 

 timely help is needed to clear the bowels of their hard contents. For this- 

 purpose an enema of warm glycerine and water may be injected into the 

 bowel, and repeated, if necessary, two or three times during the day. 

 Should this fell to effect removal of its contents, a small dose of castor-oil 

 should be given without delay, in a little warm fresh milk. If the con- 

 stipation becomes habitual in the foal, the dam must be allowed an extra 

 supply of carrots or green food, and a couple of ounces of sulphate of 

 magnesia mixed with the food every day for three times. 



Foals, when born before the full term of gestation has been reached, are 

 sometimes discharged enveloped in the foetal membranes or after-birth, and, 

 as they are then disconnected from the dam, respiration is only possible by 

 exposure to the external air ; it is necessary, therefore, that the membranes 

 be promptly removed. This having been done, breathing may be set in 

 motion by a little artificial respiration, sprinkling the face with cold water, 

 or the application of a smelling-bottle to the nose. 



It is of the first importance that the after-birth be promptly removed 

 from the box and buried in some unfrequented place, and sufficiently deep 

 to guard against its being exhumed by dogs. 



The milk of mares which foal prematurely is always scant and of 

 indifferent quality for the first two or three days, and may require to be 

 supplemented by milk from another mare or from the cow. 



