DISEASES OF HORSES 327 



the animal strains more or less. No progress is made, however; 

 there is not even opening of the neck of the womb, and after a time 

 the symptoms subside. The mare usually refuses the male; yet 

 there are exceptions to this rule. If the neck of the womb has been 

 opened and putrefying changes have set in in its contents, the mare 

 loses appetite and condition, pines, discharges an offensive matter 

 from the generative passages, and dies of inflammation of the womb 

 and putrid infection. In other cases there is a slow wearing out of 

 the strength, and the mare finally dies of exhaustion. 



The treatment is such as will facilitate the expulsion of the 

 fetus and its membranes and the subsequent washing out of the 

 womb with disinfectants. So long as the mouth of the womb is 

 closed time should be allowed for its natural dilatation, but if this 

 does not come about after a day or two of straining, the opening 

 may be smeared with extract of belladonna, and the oiled hand, 

 with the fingers and thumb drawn into the form of a cone, may be 

 inserted by slow oscillating movements into the interior of the 

 womb. The water bags may now be ruptured, any malpresentation 

 rectified, and delivery effected. After removal of the membranes 

 wash out the womb first with tepid water and then with a solution 

 of 2 ounces of borax in half a gallon of water. 



This injection may have to be repeated if a discharge sets in. 

 The same course may be pursued even after prolonged retention. 

 If the soft parts of the fetus have been absorbed and the bones only 

 left, these must be carefully sought for and removed, and subse- 

 quent daily injections will be required for some time. In such cases, 

 too, a course of iron tonics (sulphate of iron, 2 drams daily) will 

 be highly beneficial in restoring health and vigor. 



ABORTION. 



Abortion is, strictly speaking, the expulsion of the impreg- 

 nated ovum at any period from the date of impregnation until the 

 foal can survive out of the womb. If the foal is advanced enough 

 to live, it is premature parturition, and in the mare this may occur 

 as early as the tenth month. 



The mare may abort by reason of almost any cause that very 

 profoundly disturbs the system. Hence very violent inflamma- 

 tions of important internal organs may induce abortion. Profuse 

 diarrhea, whether occurring from the reckless use of purgatives, 

 the consumption of irritants in the food, or a simple indigestion, is 

 an effective cause. No less so is acute indigestion with evolution of 

 gas in the intestines. The presence of stone in the kidneys, uterus, 

 bladder, or urethra may induce so much sympathetic disorder in 

 the womb as to induce abortion. In exceptional cases wherein 

 mares come in heat during gestation, service by the stallion may 

 cause abortion. Blows or pressure on the abdomen, rapid driving 

 or riding of the pregnant mare, especially if she is soft and out of 

 condition from idleness, the brutal use of the spur or whip, and the 

 jolting and straining of travel by rail or boat are prolific censes. 

 Bleeding the pregnant mare, a painful surgical operation, and the 

 throwing and constraint resorted to for an operation are other 



