DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 159 



unimpregTiated. The blood of the pregnant mare contains an excess 

 of water and a smaller proportion of albumen and red globules, and 

 when this is still further aggravated by poor feeling, and other unhygi- 

 enic conditions, there is developed the tendency to liquid transudation 

 from the vessels and drops3^ As the watery condition of the blood 

 increases with advancing pregnancy, so dropsy of the amnion is a dis- 

 ease of the last four or five months of gestation. The abdomen is 

 large and pendulous, and the swelling fluctuates under pressure, though 

 the solid body of the fetus can still be felt to strike against the hand 

 pressed into the swelling. If the hand is introduced into the vagina 

 the womb is found to be tense and round, with the projecting rounded 

 neck effaced, while the hand in the rectum will detect the rounded 

 swollen mass of the womb so firm and tense that the body of the fetus 

 can not be felt within it. The mare moves weakly and unsteadily on 

 her limbs, having difficulty in supporting the great weight, and in bad 

 cases there may be loss of appetite, stocking (dropsy) of the hind limbs, 

 difficult breathing-, and colick}^ pains. The tension may lead to abortion, 

 or a slow, laborious parturition may occur at the usual time. 



Treatment consists in relieving the tension and accumulation by 

 puncturing the fetal membrane with a canula and trochar introduced 

 through the neck of the womb and the withdrawal of the trochar 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 B:iay 

 bring on abortion, or the wound may close and gestation continue to 

 the full term. A course of tonics (gentian root 2 drams, sulphate of 

 iron 2 drams, daily) will do much to fortify the system and counteract 

 further excessive eflfusion. 



DROrSY OF 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 (perineum), and beneath 

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

 pressure, but arc not especially tender, and subside more or less per- 

 fectly under exercise, hand rubbing, and bandages. In obstinate cases 

 rubbing with the following liniment may be resorted to: Compound 

 tincture of iodine, 2 ounces; tannic acid, one-half dram; water, 10 

 ounces. It does not last over a da}- or two after parturition. 



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 



