UlSKASKS OF THE OEXERATIVK OlttiAN.S. 177 



DURATION OF PREGNANCY. 



Mares usually <?<) about eleven uiontlis with youii<i^, thoug;h first 

 pregnancies often last a year. Foals have lived when born at the 

 three hundredth day, so with others carried till the four hundiedth 

 day. A\'ith the lon'jjer pregnancies there is a greater probalulity of 

 male otVsi)i-ing. 



HYGIENE OF THE PREGNANT MARE. 



The pregnant niaie shouKl not be exposed to teasing by a young 

 and ardent stallion, nor should she be overworked or fatigued, jiar- 

 ticularly under the saddle or on une\en giound. Yet exercise is bene- 

 ficial to both mother and otlspring, i\\\d in the absence of moderate 

 work the breeding mare should be kept in a lot where she can take 

 exercise at Avill. 



The feed should be liberal, but not fattening — oats, bran, sound 

 hay, and other feeds rich in the principles which form flesh and bone 

 being especially indicated. All aliments that tend to indigestion are 

 to be especially avoided. Thus rank, acjueous, rapidly growing 

 grasses and other green feed, partially ripe rye grass, millet, Hun- 

 garian grass, vetches, peas, beans, or nuiize are objectionable, as is 

 overripe, fibrous, innutritions hay, or that which has l)een injured 

 and rendered musty by wet, or that which is infested with smut or 

 ergot. Feed that tends to costiveness should be avoided. Water 

 given often, and at a temperature considerable above freezing, will 

 avoid the dangers of indigestion and abortion which result from tak- 

 ing too much ice-cold water at one time. Very cold or frozen feed is 

 olijectionable in the same sense. Severe surgical operations and 

 medicines that act violently on the womb, bowels, or kidneys are to be 

 avoided as being liable to cause abortion. Constipation should be 

 corrected, if possible, by bran mashes, carrots, or beets, seconded by 

 exercise, and if a medicinal laxative is required it should be olive 

 oil or other equally bland agent. 



The stall of the pregnant mare should not be too narrow, so as to 

 cramp her when lying down or to entail violent effort in getting up, 

 and it should lutt slope too much from the front backward, as this 

 throws the weight of the uterus back on the jielvis and endangers 

 protrusions and even abortion. Violent mental impressi(ms are to be 

 avoided, for though most nuires are not afiected thereby, yet a cer- 

 tain numljer are so profoundly impressed that peculiarities and 

 distortions are entailed on the offspring; hence, there is wisdom 

 shown in banishing particolored or objectionaldy tinted animals, and 

 those that show deformities or faulty conformation. Hence, too, the 

 importance of preventing prolonged, acute suffering b}' the pregnant 

 mare, as certain troubles of the eyes, feet, and joints in the foals have 



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