510 CYCLOPEDIA OP LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



place without erection ; it flowing away, occasionally, with the urine. In 

 such a case castration is the only remedy. To prevent this disastrous 

 habit, let all stallions wear shields from the time they are two years old. 



DISEASES PECULIAR TO THE MARE. 



Diseases of the generative organs are not so numerous in the mare as 

 in the cow, i)rol)al)ly owing, as before explained, to her leading a more 

 active life. 



Vni. Parturition. 



This the mare gets through with very quickly when everything is 

 right, l)ut when it goes wrong or is prolonged, on account of mnlpresen- 

 tation, or malformation of the pelvis, the case is very bad indeed. The 

 cow may be in the act of calving many hours, and come out all right, if 

 she gets tlie right kind of assistance, but the mare, if not relieved, may 

 die inside of an hour. Do not interfere, however, unless absolutely nec- 

 essary in consequence of delivery coming too soon, (as from some exter- 

 nal violence), and before the ligaments of the pelvis are relaxed to allow 

 the foetus to pass, or of some malpresentation. In such cases, assis- 

 tance, to be of any service, must be rendered soon and efficiently. 



The mare should be strong and in good healthy condition ; as to flesh, 

 not too fat nor too thin, and strong, as a result of proper exercise. The 

 bowels should be loosened by giving soft feed, roots, etc., at the close of 

 the period of gestation. In the great majority of cases, little cr nothing 

 else is necessar3^ 



What to do. — ^In case of malpresentation, refer to the corresponding 

 position in the cow, which will be found described in its proper place. 

 If all means fail to deliver the foal alive, and one or the other must be 

 sacrificed, cut the foal away, piece by piece ; but if the foal is alive and the 

 mare cannot be saved, the foal can be brought away by the Cesarian 

 operation. (See chapter on operations.) 



Dead foetus. — Sometimes the fcetus dies some considerable time be- 

 fore the full term of gestation is completed, and thus becoming a foreign 

 substance, it must be removed. Sometimes, in such cases, the os uteri 

 does not relax and needs assistance. This condition of affairs will be 

 known by the mare's continuous and persistent straining, in the effort to 

 expel the foetus. 



What to do. — Pass in your hand, after oiling it with olive oil, and in- 

 sert one finger into the os, then two and three, and so on, working very 

 gradually, till it is well dilated. If this does not succeed, insert a sponge 

 wet with fluid extract of belladonna into the os, and let it remain there 

 ten or twelve hours, and then try the hand again. 



