OF FARRIERY. 



437 



and tlirive better ; and will be hardy and 

 tractable, and gradually familiarized with the 

 objects among; which it is afterwards to live. 

 While the mother, however, is thus worked, 

 she and the foal shonld be well fed ; and two 

 feeds of corn, at least, should be added to the 

 green food which I hey get when turned out 

 after their work, and at night. The mare 

 will usually be found at heat at or before the 

 expiration of a month from the lime of foaling, 

 when, if she be kept principally for breeding 

 piK-poses, she may be put again to the Horse. 



To return, however, to the foal : — It is not 

 generally known that the refusing to suck, 

 which is the cause of the death of many foals, 

 as well as the scouring, which about the third 

 day kills many more, are both produced by 

 irritation, and consequent inflammation of the 

 bowels, from the retention of a few small hard 

 faices in the rectum. These are generally 

 more in quantity in proportion as the keep of 

 the mare has been high. 



Tlie cure is simple; a few hours after the 

 foal has been dropped, a tallow candle should 

 invariably be passed into the rectum, and 

 when the passage has been sufficiently soft- 

 ened, the faeces can easily be extracted by the 

 finger. 



In cases where scouring kills foals at a 

 subsequent period, it is generally attributable 

 to the foal heating itself by violent exercise ; 

 consequently the mare, for the first day or 

 two that she is let out (supposing her to be 

 lioused,) ought only to be walked about with 

 a halter, and the same practice pursued at the 

 time of her first liorsing. 



Some mares will not allow their foals to 

 suck. This arises from the tenderness of the 

 teats ; and in this case they should have their 

 heads tied up, and if necessary, be otherwise 



prevented from kicking, while they are milked 

 by hand ; and the milk should be rubbea 

 over the teats for some siiort time, after which 

 they will allow the foal to suck. 



Should the mare's milk be oltstructed and 

 fail, either from cold caught, or other cause, 

 if out, she should immediately be taken up to 

 the house, and enticed to lie down upon a 

 large and deep littered bed of fresh straw, in 

 a loose Itox, and every method taken to com- 

 fort her, and to encourage the secretion of 

 milk. To promote this end, as much warm 

 mild ale should be allowed, as she would 

 drink ; or should she refuse it, she may be 

 drenched with a couple of quarts, to be re- 

 peated as may appear necessary ; her food 

 being the finest and most fragrant hay, sweet 

 grains, with mashes of corn and pollard. In 

 cases of chill, and great weakness, the old 

 well known article, cordial ball, may be given 

 in warm ale. 



Should, however, the case be inflammatory, 

 from previous high condition and fulness of 

 blood, cordial ball and all stimulants should 

 be strictly avoided, and the regimen confined 

 to warm water and gruel, in as copious quan- 

 tities as can be administered. Should fur- 

 ther measures of similar tendency be indicated, 

 a mild solution of Glauber's or Epsom salts 

 (ten or twelve ounces in a pail of warm water,) 

 may be given, which she may be induced to 

 drink by means of being kept short of water. 

 A moderate quantity of blood may be drawn, 

 should the symptoms demand it, not other- 

 wise. Daily walking exercise abroad, the 

 mare being clothed if necessary, should suc- 

 ceed, until she be sufficiently recovered to be 

 returned to her pasture. 



During the inal)iiity of the mare to give 

 suck, the foal must be sustained on cow's 

 5 z 



