THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 73 



It is made up of muscular fibres, and is strong and thick in 

 the womb, much thicker than it is in the bowels or other 

 organs already mentioned. This coat supports and protects 

 the foetus or young while it is being carried in the womb, 

 and at the time of parturition, or what is commonly known 

 as foaling, this coat also comes into use. It contracts the 

 womb very forcibly on the foal, while the neck of womb lies 

 open, thus helping to force the foal out of the womb. This 

 is important as the contraction of this coat produces what is 

 known as labor pains. Lying outside, and covering around 

 the womb, is a serous coat, a continuation of the serous coat 

 of the bowels. The womb is held in place by strong liga- 

 ments attached to the sides, and from there to the hip bones. 

 These are called broad ligaments. At the back part of the 

 womb is the neck. It consists of an opening, formed by a 

 projection, about the size of an egg. This has a hard, gritty 

 feeling when the animal is not in season. The neck at this 

 time is closed. The neck of the womb is under control of 

 the muscle around it, and this muscle is under control of the 

 nerves of the womb. When the mare comes in season, this 

 muscle is relaxed to a certain extent, thus allowing the neck 

 to open wide enough for the passage of a couple of fingers. 

 By working around it with the fingers at this period it can 

 be forced wide enough to admit a man's hand. If the mare 

 is put to the horse at this time, and becomes pregnant or with 

 foal, the muscle in the neck of the womb contracts, firmly 

 closing it. It remains closed until the time of foaling. 

 When, at the time of foaling, the labor pains come on, the 

 muscle in the neck dilates, allowing the neck of the womb to 

 open large enough for the foal to pass out. The neck of the 

 womb can be felt easily by oiling the hand and passing it 

 into the passage to the womb. It will be noticed, too, that 

 the neck spoken of projects into the passage. 



12. The Vagina and the Vulva. — These two organs 

 together make up the passage which leads into the womb 

 from the outside. In the young mare they are separated 

 by a thin curtain, or partition, made up of mucous mem- 

 brane. This curtain is found about four inches from the 

 outside, and is known as the hymen. It is destroyed, or 

 should be, when the mare is first put to the horse, although 

 it is broken down in other ways, and in some cases it will 

 disappear of its own accord. The part of the passage in front 



