DISEASES OF HORSES 325 



inflammation and lameness have both passed, and an active ophthal- 

 mia is more to be feared than even an old cataract. For this reason 

 all active diseases in the breeding mare should be soothed and abated 

 at as early a moment as possible. 



DROPSY OF THE WOMB. 



This appears as a result of some disease of the walls of the 

 womb, but has been frequently observed as the result of infection 

 after sexual congress, and has, therefore, been confounded with 

 pregnancy. The symptoms are those of pregnancy, but without 

 any movements of the fetus and without the detection of any solid 

 body in the womb when examined with the oiled hand in the rec- 

 tum. At the end of four or eight months there are signs of parturi- 

 tion or of frequent straining to pass urine, and after a time the 

 liquid is discharged clear and watery, or muddy, thick, and fetid. 

 The hand introduced into the womb can detect neither fetus nor 

 fetal membrane. If the neck of the womb closes, the liquid may 

 accumulate a second time, or even a third, if no means are taken 

 to disinfect it or to correct the tendency. The best resort is to 

 remove any diseased product that may be found attached to the 

 walls of the womb, and to inject it daily with a warm solution of 

 carbolic acid 2 drams, chloride of zinc one-half dram, water 1 quart. 

 A course of bitter tonics (gentian 2 drams, sulphate of iron 2 drams, 

 daily) should be given, and a nutritious, easily digested, and 

 slightly laxative diet allowed. 



DROPSY OP THE AMNION. 



This differs from simple dropsy of the womb in that the fluid 

 collects in the inner of the two water bags (that in which the foal 

 floats) and not in the otherwise void cavity of the womb. This 

 affection can occur only in the pregnant animal, while dropsy of 

 the womb occurs in the unimpregnated. The blood of the preg- 

 nant mare contains an excess of water and a smaller proportion of 

 albumen and red globules, and when this is still further aggravated 

 by poor feeding and other unhygienic conditions there is developed 

 the tendency to liquid transudation from the vessels and dropsy. 

 As the watery condition of the blood increases with advancing preg- 

 nancy, so dropsy of the amnion is a disease of the last four or five 

 months of gestation. The abdomen is large and pendulous, and 

 the swelling fluctuates under pressure, though the solid body of 

 the fetus can still be felt to strike against the hand pressed into the 

 swelling. If the hand is introduced into the vagina, the womb is 

 found to be tense and round, with the projecting rounded neck 

 effaced, while the hand in the rectum will detect the rounded 

 swollen mass of the womb so firm and tense that the body of the 

 fetus can not be felt within it. The mare moves weakly and un- 

 steadily on her limbs, having difficulty in supporting the great 

 weight, and in bad cases there may be loss of appetite, stocking of 

 the hind limbs, difficult breathing, and colicky pains. The tension 

 may lead to abortion, or a slow, laborious parturition may occur at 

 the usual time. 



