FOALS PREMATURELY BORN 221 



At the time of birth and for some time afterwards, foals often present 

 an unshapely and awkward appearance. Their hocks or knees, or both, are 

 acutely flexed, and their fetlocks may almost touch the ground. The limbs 

 give the impression of being incapable of supporting the weight of the body 

 (Plate XL). In many instances the advice of the writer has been sought 

 as to whether animals so deformed should not be destroyed. It should, 

 however, be remembered that where there is no bending of bones, or 

 shortening of ligaments or tendons, the foal invariably "straightens up", 

 and the deformity gradually disappears as growth proceeds. In those cases 

 where the bending of the joints is due to contraction of the tendons, the 

 defect may be remedied by mechanically stretching, or dividing the latter 

 by a surgical operation. 



FOALS PEEMATURELY BORN 



When foals come before their time, they lack the finishing touch in the 

 work of development, although every organ may be fully represented in all 

 its parts and relations. The prospect of rearing these immature youngsters 

 will depend upon the period of gestation which has been reached when they 

 are born, and the strength and vitality they display at the time. 



In all cases they require the greatest attention and care, and in some, 

 however anxious we may be to preserve life, the task is hopeless from the 

 first. This is especially so when birth takes place four or five weeks before 

 the natural period. 



Foals prematurely born are, from their ill-developed condition, small, 

 and, being too weak to stand, are unable to feed themselves. They display 

 a great desire for sleep, and it is of the first importance that every 

 encouragement be given to its restorative influence. For some time the 

 breathing will be more or less quick, and to the uninitiated may give the 

 idea of some grave lung disease, but under judicious management a gradual 

 subsidence will take place as time goes on, until the normal standard of 

 breathing is reached. 



Being helpless, a foal prematurely born should be removed from the 

 presence of the mare as soon as it. has been thoroughly cleansed, and con- 

 veyed into a warm, dry apartment, where, if necessary, artificial heat must 

 be supplied. 



Laid on a soft bed of hay, and covered by a couple of blankets, it should 

 be left undisturbed for half to three-quarters of an hour, when the mare 

 must be milked, and the produce given to the foal out of a feeding-bottle. 

 This must be repeated every half-hour, with the precaution that the vessel 

 used for receiving milk from the mare and the one employed in feeding 



VOL. III. 80 



