230 Common Diseases of the Horse 



to be delayed. On the other hand, if the foal is not expelled 

 within a short time, the person in charge, who should be well 

 known to the patient, may very quietly make an examination, 

 to see that the foetus is in a proper position to be born, and 

 that it is not in danger of suffocation by the nostrils being 

 covered by the foetal membranes, an accumulation of mucus, or 

 other discharge. If the hand has to be inserted into the passage, 

 it is absolutely essential that it should be clean and disinfected. 

 The hands should be well washed and scrubbed with soap and 

 water, then disinfected, and not allowed to come in contact with 

 anything else prior to examination. 



In natural birth the fore legs of the foal, with the head lying 

 between them, are presented, and if these are in evidence a little 

 more time than usual may be allowed, especially in the case of 

 a first foal, which takes longer on account of the maternal organs 

 not having been previously dilated. If suspicion is aroused that 

 there is some obstruction, the passage must be carefully explored. 

 It may be that a limb has become jammed below the brim of 

 the pelvic basin. This can soon be put right, whereas if delay 

 occurs, serious consequences will result. In any case, the foal 

 will soon perish. Should the examination reveal any abnormal 

 position that cannot very easily be adjusted, the veterinary sur- 

 geon must be sent for immediately. Any unskilled interference 

 will complicate affairs, the labour pains will weaken, eventually 

 cease, and the longer birth is delayed the more difficult will it 

 be to accomplish. 



After the birth, both mother and foal usually lie for half an 

 hour or so, until the former has recovered from the exhaustion 

 attendant upon her efforts. She will then rise and commence 

 to mother her foal by licking it all over until it is dry, or if, as 

 is rarely the case, she does not give it attention, an effort must 

 be made to induce her to do so. It may be sprinkled with salt 

 and drawn up to her head; she will generally commence her 

 duties when she finds it being interfered with. The attendants 

 in this case must be careful of themselves. Many mares will 

 resent human interference in a marked fashion, and in their 

 efforts to protect their young, be liable to injure either it or any 

 persons approaching. The chief point is to allow time, and use 

 discretion. If the mare is over-exhausted or excited when she 

 gets up, half a gallon of warm gruel with a tumblerful of whisky 

 in it may be administered. In any case she may have a drink 

 of warm gruel; it will soothe, and distract her attention momen- 

 tarily from the foal, which may then be briefly examined If 



