PARTURITION 269 



one watching the mare's abdomen perceived to be frequent, violent, and 

 disordered, but they soon become feeble and infrequent, and cease alto- 

 gether when it has died. The mare shows symptoms of illness, and these 

 are soon succeeded by those that characterize ordinary parturition, and 

 spontaneous birth of the dead progeny takes place, or, in rare instances, it 

 may be necessary to remove it manually. 



In other instances,' when the foetus is not removed from the mare 

 spontaneously or artificially after it has ceased to move in the uterus, the 

 mare regains her ordinary tranquillity, appetite, and liveliness, and all the 

 symptoms disappear for one or more days, when they are again manifested, 

 and the foetus may be expelled without any apparent effort, or after much 

 straining. 



When it is observed that abortion is likely to occur, it is advisable to 

 obtain professional advice as soon as possible. If the accident has already 

 occurred, however, then, if other pregnant mares are near, they must be at 

 once removed to a safe distance from the place, which should be cleaned 

 and disinfected as soon as possible. Everything in the way of litter and 

 remains of fodder, together with the foetus and its envelopes, ought to be 

 burned, and the ground well scraped and disinfected. The hind-quarters 

 of the mare should also be washed with carbolic water, Condy's fluid, or 

 solution of corrosive sublimate (1 per 1000); one of these fluids, warm, 

 should also be injected into the uterus if this is emptied of its contents. 

 Until all this has been done, and some days have elapsed, the mare must 

 not be allowed to associate with in-foal mares. It is also advisable to- 

 prohibit persons who have attended on the mare approaching these until 

 they have at least been disinfected. 



It is a wise measure to keep pregnant mares away from horses affected 

 with infectious or contagious diseases, such as influenza and strangles, as, if 

 they become affected, they may abort, or the maladies may be transmitted 

 to the progeny. 



PARTURITION 



The duration of pregnancy in the mare is usually about eleven months, 

 though it may vary between ten and twelve months, or even more. The 

 normal duration is, however, between 330 and 350 days. Some foals may 

 be bora alive from the 300th to the 310th day, but this is rare. 



Breed and feeding have some influence on the duration of pregnancy. 

 In high-bred and well-fed mares it is generally shorter than in under-bred, 

 badly-cared-for, and hard-worked animals. 



Allusion has already been made to the signs which indicate that this 

 period is drawing to a close, and it is necessary that these should be noted 



VOL. HI. 83 



