MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES. 87 



foal come on a clean bed, in a clean place thor- 

 oughly disinfected and well lighted. Sunlight is 

 a great destroyer of filth germs. 



Fortunately the micro-organisms which cause 

 joint-ill are very easily destroyed. They may 

 be said to enter the circulation of the foal by the 

 large vein at the navel, or umbilical vein, and to 

 prevent such entrance or invasion ligation of the 

 navel or umbilical cord is to be advised. These 

 same germs are always to be dreaded when 

 babies are born, and we all know that ligation 

 of the cord is always practiced in the human 

 family. Being easily destroyed, these germs 

 are readily combated by the application of any 

 good antiseptic, but corrosive sublimate is to be 

 preferred, using a 1-500 solution to swab the 

 small portion of the cord left pendant from the 

 body of the foal immediately after ligation 

 which means tying a string around the cord. 

 Ligation should be as close to the body as possi- 

 ble, and the string should be surgeon's silk. The 

 corrosive sublimate solution should be applied 

 twice daily to the pendulous portion of the cord 

 until it drops off. Eemember these germs are 

 everywhere. They are merely filth germs. The 

 cleaner and lighter the place in which the mare 

 foals the less will be the risk the foal will run of 

 infection. Always clean out the stall after the 

 mare has foaled and burn the litter. The fluids 

 incident to foaling seem to promote germ pro- 

 duction in an amazing degree. 



