326 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



Treatment. This consists in relieving the tension and accumu- 

 lation by puncturing the fetal membrane with a canula and trocar in- 

 troduced through the neck of the womb and the withdrawal of the 

 trocar so as to leave the canula in situ. Or the membranes may be 

 punctured with the finger and the excess of liquid allowed to escape. 

 This may bring on abortion, or the wound may close and gestation 

 continue to the full term. A course of tonics (gentian root 2 drain.?, 

 sulphate of iron 2 drams, daily) will do much to fortify the system 

 and counteract further excessive effusion. 



DROPSY OP THE LIMBS, PERINEUM, AND ABDOMEN. 



The disposition to dropsy often shows itself in the hind and 

 even in the fore limbs, around and beneath the vulva and beneath 

 the abdomen and chest. The affected parts are swollen and pit on 

 pressure, but are not especially tender, and subside more or less 

 perfectly under exercise, hand rubbing, and bandages. In obstinate 

 cases rubbing with the following liniment may be resorted to : Com- 

 pound tincture of iodine, 2 ounces; tannic acid, one half dram; 

 water, 10 ounces. It does not last over a day or two after parturi- 

 tion. 



CRAMPS OF THE HIND LIMBS. 



The pressure of the distended womb on the nerves and blood 

 vessels of the pelvis, besides conducing to dropsy, occasionally causes 

 cramps of the hind limbs. The limb is raised without flexing the 

 joints, the front of the hoof being directed toward the ground, or, 

 the spasms occurring intermittently, the foot is kicked violently 

 against the ground several times in rapid succession. The muscles 

 are felt to be firm and rigid. The cramp may be promptly relieved 

 by active rubbing, or by walking the animal about, and it does not 

 reappear after parturition. 



PROLONGED RETENTION OF THE FETUS (FOAL). 



In the mare, though far less frequently than in the cow, par- 

 turition may not be completed at term, and the foal may continue 

 to be carried in the womb for a number of months, to the serious 

 or even fatal injury of the mare. 



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

 of parturition, such as lack of contractile power in the womb, un- 

 duly strong adhesions between the womb and the fetal membranes, 

 wrong presentation of the fetus, contracted pelvis (from fracture 

 or disease of the bones), or disease and induration of the neck of 

 the womb. 



The mere prolongation of gestation does not necessarily entail 

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

 four hundredth day. Even when the foal has perished, putrefac- 

 tion does not set in unless the membranes 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. 



At the natural period of parturition preparations are appar- 

 ently made for that act. The vulva swells and discharges much 

 mucus, the udder enlarges, the belly becomes more pendent, and 



