182 THE VETERINARY SCIENCE 



Mix in a pint of lukewarm water, and with a sponge rub 

 the inside of the womb with this lotion every second day till 

 the discharge stops. Give the following powders: 



Sulphate of Copper % pound. 



Sulphate of Iron , H pound. 



Mix and give a teaspoonful twice a day in the feed ; feed 

 on rich food and give regular exercise, and, as a general 

 thing, she will soon be all right. It is very dangerous to put 

 the mare to a horse while in this condition as there is a pos- 

 sibility of the horse catching it. Should she be served, how- 

 ever, and should the horse become affected, it constitutes 

 what is known as clap or gonorrhoea. See Chap. VII., Sect. 7. 



3. Barrenness. 



This is a condition in which it is impossible to get the 

 mare with foal. 



Causes. — It is the natural consequences of some defect in 

 the reproductive organs such as diseased ovaries or contrac- 

 tion or closure of the neck of the womb. It may be the re- 

 sult of misplacement of the womb so that the neck becomes 

 twisted to one side. 



Symptoms. — The main symptom of course is the failure 

 to get the mare with foal. 



Treatment. — Pass the oiled hand into the passage and 

 examine the neck of the womb. If it is found that the open- 

 ing is closed or contracted it may be gradually opened with 

 the fingers. Should this be difficult saturate a sponge with 

 extract of belladonna, press it against the neck of the womb 

 so as to bathe it with the medicine. In one hour after this 

 the opening may be easily made because of the relaxing ef- 

 fect of the medicine upon the muscles. Allow service of the 

 horse after this and it is usually successful. 



Should the neck of the womb be twisted to one side, 

 straighten as nearly as possible and allow service at once. 



Should barrenness be the result of diseased ovaries noth- 

 ing can be done. 



Sometimes a change of horses is effective. A mare that 

 will not breed to one horse will sometimes be fruitful to 

 another. Mares will breed as young as two and as old as 

 twenty ; some even older than this. 



