DISEASES OF THE HORSE 17 



cury, and see that the finger-nails are smooth. Grease 

 the hand and arm with vaseline and proceed to dilate 

 the neck of the womb. It may be difficult at first to in- 

 sert the finger, but the opening will gradually enlarge. 

 Work slowly and carefully until three fingers may be 

 inserted. Breeding should follow about three hours 

 after the womb has been dilated. 



BLEEDING AFTER CASTRATION 

 If bleeding is from the little artery in the back portion 

 of cord, it will generally stop of its own accord, but if 

 it should continue to bleed for thirty minutes, , throw 

 clean, cold water against the part. 



"When bleeding is from the large artery in front of 

 the cord, it is considered dangerous. The artery should 

 be tied with a silk thread if possible, or twisted with a 

 pair of forceps. Occasionally the artery cannot be 

 found, in which case the hole in the scrotum should be 

 plugged with a clean cloth saturated with Tincture of 

 Iron, which will clot the blood and thus close the artery. 



BLOOD POISONING 



(Septicaemia or Pyemia) 



Cause: By the popular term, *' Blood Poison,'* is 

 meant a state of constitutional disturbance brought on 

 by the entrance of putrid products — usually from a 

 wound — into the blood. As a rule some pressure or 

 inoculation is necessary for the introduction of poison 

 into the circulation; hence, the necessity of free drain- 

 age and thorough disinfection of the wound, and the only 

 hopeful cases are those in which by this means the 

 supply of poison may be cut short. 



Symptoms: It is introduced through any wound or 

 abrasion, whether due to injury, disease or by an oper- 

 ation. Signs of septic poison are heat, pain and 

 swelling. 



Tkeatment: It is necessary to see that the wound 



