DISEASES OF HORSES 341 



backward and upward, until the feet can be brought up into the 

 passages. The great length of the shank and pastern in the foal is 

 a serious obstacle to this, and in all cases the foot should be pro- 

 tected in the palm of the hand while being brought up over the 

 brim of the pelvis. Otherwise the womb may be torn. When the 

 pains are too violent and constant to allow effective manipulation, 

 some respite may be obtained by the use of chloroform or morphine 

 and by turning the mare on her back, but too often the operator 

 fails and the foal must be sacrificed. Two courses are still open: 

 First, to cut through the cords behind and above the hock and ex- 

 tend the upper part of the limb, leaving the hock bent, and extract 

 in this way, and, second, to amputate the hind limbs at the hip 

 joint and remove them separately, after which the body may be 

 extracted. 



HIND PRESENTATION WITH LEGS BENT FORWARD FROM THE HIP. 



This is merely an aggravated form of the presentation last 

 described. If the mare is roomy, a rope may be passed around each 

 thigh and the body pushed upward and forward, so as to bring the 

 hocks and heels upward. If this can be accomplished, nooses are 

 placed on the limb farther and farther down until the fetlock is 

 reached and brought into position. If failure is met with, then 

 amputation at the hips is the last resort. 



FLOODING, OR BLEEDING FROM THE WOMB. 



This is rare in the mare, but not unknown, in connection with 

 a failure of the womb to contract on itself after parturition, or with 

 eversion of the womb (casting the withers), and congestion or 

 laceration. If the blood accumulates in the flaccid womb, the con- 

 dition may only be suspected by reason of the rapidly advancing 

 weakness, swaying, unsteady gait, hanging head, paleness of the 

 eyes and other mucous membranes, and weak, small, failing pulse. 

 The hand introduced into the womb detects the presence of the 

 blood partly clotted. If the blood escapes by the vulva, the condi- 

 tion is evident. 



Treatment consists in evacuating the womb of its blood clots, 

 giving a large dose of powdered ergot of rye, and in the application 

 of cold water or ice to the loins and external generative organs. 

 Besides this, a sponge impregnated with a strong solution of alum, 

 or, still better, with tincture of muriate of iron, may be introduced 

 into the womb and squeezed so as to bring the liquid in contact 

 with the walls generally. 



EVERSION OF THE WOMB. 



If the womb fails to contract after difficult parturition, the after- 

 pains will sometimes lead to the fundus passing into the body of the 

 organ and passing through that and the vagina until the whole in- 

 verted organ appears externally and hangs down on the thighs. The 

 result is rapid engorgement and swelling of the organ, impaction of 

 the rectum with fcces. and detention of the bladder with urine, all 

 of which conditions seriously interfere with the return of the mass. 

 In returning the womb the standing is preferable to the recumbent 

 position, as the abdomen is more pendent and there is less obstruc- 



