THE MARE AFTER FOALING 227 



sometimes desirable to direct it to the gland. This, however, should not 

 be attempted too soon, for the natural instinct of the little creature will 

 sooner or later guide it to the source of its food-supply. 



Young mares are liable to injure their foals by treading upon them 

 before they " get their legs ", but this is frequently brought about by the 

 over-anxiety and untimely interference of the attendant. Strong foals 

 quickly rise to their feet, and require but little interference. Weakly 

 foals, on the other hand, or those prematurely born, make many ineflectual 

 attempts to rise, and in doing so are liable to fall in the way of the dam 

 and suffer injury. It is in these cases that special watchfulness and care 

 are required. Here the attendant should allow the foal plenty of time, and 

 wait until it is able of itself to rise. It may then be supported and 

 assisted to the teat. 



For the first twenty-four hours after foaling, the mare's diet should be 

 carefully selected and adjusted as to quantity. At first, warm oatmeal or 

 linseed gruel is the most suitable ; and if parturition has been troublesome 

 and prolonged, and there is evidence of exhaustion and weakness, a pint of 

 good ale should be mixed with it and repeated in two or three hours, or 

 failing that, 4 to 6 oz. of whisky may be substituted. A little scalded 

 bran and crushed oats may follow, and later a liberal quantity of nourish- 

 ing diet, of which green stuff should form a large proportion. 



After the mare has cleansed and drained, the soiled .straw should be 

 removed from the foaling-box and the fioor well swept and disinfected. 

 For several days a certain small quantity of discharge will flow from 

 the genital passage and soil the tail, and maybe the udder and teats, and 

 in a putrid condition this may find its way into the stomach of the foal, 

 and occasion diarrhoea of an obstinate or even of a rapidly fatal character. 



Many of those attacks of this disease of obscure origin, and which are 

 attributed to all sorts of possible and impossible causes, arise out of the 

 ingestion of decomposing filth, taken in the act of suckling. Not only may 

 this poisonous stufi" besmear the udder, but it may also be transferred to it 

 by the filth-laden tail, or be gathered from the sodden litter on which the 

 mare may lie. 



To avoid danger to the foal from this cause, the udder should be 

 sponged from time to time during the first few days after parturition, and 

 the tail of the dam should also be thoroughly washed and cleansed. These 

 precautions are especially necessary in those cases where foaling has been 

 difficult and has called for assistance, and the discharge has been con- 

 siderable. 



For the first two days after foaling, both mare and offspring should be 

 protected from cold and wet, and especially from exposure to easterly and 



