I 



DISEASES OF THE (;ENERATIVE ORGANS. 181 



Compound tiiKture of iodin, li oiim-es; taniiif aciil. one-half ilrani; 

 water, 10 oiintt's. It does not last nioi«' than, a day oi- two after 

 parturition. 



CRAMPS OF THE HIND LIMBS. 



The i)ressure of the distentled wonih on the nerves and blood \ e.ssels 

 of the })el\ is, besides eon(hKin«>; to dropsy, occasionally causes cramps 

 of the hind limbs. The limb is raised without flexiiifj^ the joints, tho 

 front of the h(K)f bein<:: directed toward the ijfrouiul. or, the spasms 

 occurring intermittently, the foot is kicked violently against the 

 ground several times in rapid succession. The inust^les are felt to be 

 liini and rigid. The cramp may be i)romptly relieved by active rub- 

 bing or by walking the animal about, and it does not reappear after 

 parturition. 



CONSTIPATION. 



This may result from compression by gra\id woml), and is best 

 corrected by a graduated allowance of boiled flax.seed. 



PARALYSIS. 



The pressure on the nerves of the pelvis is liable to cause paralysis 

 of the hind limbs or of the nerve of sight. These are obstinate until 

 after parturition, when they recover spontaneously, or under a 

 course of nux vomica and (local) stimulating liniments. 



PROLONGED RETENTION OF THE FETUS (FOAL). 



Though far less fre(juently than in the ca.se of the cow, parturition 

 may not be completed at term, and the jnare, to her serious and even 

 fatal injury, may carry the foal in the womb for a number of months. 

 Hamon records one case in which the mare died after carrying the 

 fetus for 17 months, and Caillier a similar result after it had been 

 carricxl 22 months. In these cases the fetus retained its natural form, 

 but in one reported l)y (lohier the bones only woic left in the womb 

 amid a mass of apparently purulent matter. 



Cause. — The cause may be any effective obstruction to the act of 

 parturition, stich as lack of contractile jxjwcr in the womb, undidv 

 strong (inllammatory ) adhesions between the womb and the fetal 

 membranes, wrong presentation of the fetus, contracted pelvis (from 

 fracture or disease of the Ixmes), or disea.se and induration of (he 

 neck of the womb. 



The mere prolongatiim of ge.-tation does not necessarily entail the 

 death of the foal; hence the latter has been born alive at the four 

 himdredth day. P^ven when the foal has ))erished j)Utrefaction does 

 not set in unle.ss the membranes (water bags) have been ruptured and 

 septic bacteria have been admitted to the interior of the womb. In 

 the latter case a fetid decomposition advances rapidly, and the mare 

 usually perishes from poisoning with the putrid matters absorbed. 



