PARTURITION 271 



place with the birth of the foal, but it is generally subsequent to that 

 event within a few hours. If they are retained until they begin to putrefy, 

 serious consequences may ensue ; it is necessary to remove them in a day 

 or so. If they are apparent, or readily accessible to the hand, they may be 

 gently twisted round like a rope and slightly pulled upon until they are 

 brought away. If this procedure is not successful, then the hand and arm, 

 well soaped or oiled, must be introduced into the uterus, and the mem- 

 branes seized, disengaged from their attachments, and completely removed 

 from the mare. This attempt is all the more urgently necessary when 

 there is a foul odour from the membranes and a bad-smelling discharge 

 from the vagina, the mare at the same time making attempts to strain, and 

 looking feverish. Then not only must e^•ery portion of these membranes 

 be removed from the uterine cavity, but this must be thoroughly cleansed 

 by copious injections of warm w^ater, to wdiich a small proportion of carbolic 

 acid has been added, and scrupulous cleanliness should be observed with 

 the mare's hind-quarters and her surroundings. 



Sometimes the mare, from debility or other cause, foals while lying 

 down, and unless she gets up immediately the foal is born, the navel-string 

 is not torn, so that the young creature may remain attached to its parent 

 through this medium unless some accident release it, either the cord being 

 ruptured or the membranes dragged from the uterus. If an attendant is at 

 hand, however, the foal can be readily disengaged if he ties the cord firmly 

 round with a piece of string in two places, about 6 or 8 inches from the 

 foal, and cuts in through between the ties; this prevents bleeding from 

 the mother and from the foal. 



Difficult Parturition. — Though parturition is generally and appa- 

 rently an easy and prompt act in the mare, )'et it is not always so; on the 

 contrary, in some instances it is extremely complicated and difficult, and 

 many of these cases have a rapidly fatal termination. Hence the great 

 need for careful observation of the mare at this time, for when the foal 

 presents itself in the genital passage in an unfavourable position or abnor- 

 mal attitude, unless the attendant have skill and experience it will fare 

 badly with the mare, unless the assistance of an expert can be speedily 

 procured, as she — unlike the cow — unless soon delivered, quickly becomes 

 greatly excited and restless, and even furious. All veterinary surgeons 

 who have had to deal with cases of difficult birth in mares are w'ell aware of 

 the herculean and dangerous task that often lies before them, when they 

 are called upon to attend such cases, owing to the excitement, uneasiness, 

 and only too frequently mad plunging of the animal, which is all the 

 greater as parturition is protracted. 



For this and other reasons it is imperative, if the foal is not born very 



