166 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



been rendered natural, traction on the fetus must be made only during 

 a labor pain. If a marc is inclined to kick, it may be necessary to 

 apply hobbles to protect the operator. 



PREMATURE LABOR PAINS. 



These may be brought on b}- any violent exertion, use under the 

 saddle, or in heavy draft, or in rapid paces, or in travel by rail or sea, 

 blows, kicks, crushing by other animals in a doorwaj^ or gate. Excess- 

 ive action of purgative or diuretic agents, or of agents that irritate the 

 bowels or kidneys, like arsenic, paris green, all caustic salts and acids, 

 and acrid and narcotico-acrid vegetables, is equally injurious. Finall}", 

 the ingestion of agents that stimulate the action of the gvavid v/orab 

 (ergot of rye or of other grasses, smut, various fungi of fodders, rue, 

 savin, cotton root, etc.) may bring on labor pains prematurely. 



Besides the knowledge that parturition is not yet due. there will be 

 less enlargement, redness, and swelling of the vulva, less mucous dis- 

 charge, less filling of the udder, and less appearances of wax and prob- 

 ably none of milk from the ends of the teats. The oiled hand intro- 

 duced into the vulva will not enter with the ease usual at full term, 

 and the neck of .the womb will be felt not only closed, but with its 

 projecting papilla, through which it is perforated, not yet flattened 

 down and effaced, as at full term. The symptom-s are indeed those of 

 threatened abortion, but at such an advanced stage of gestation as is 

 compatible with the survival of the offspring. 



Treatment. — The treatment consists in the separation of the maro 

 from all other animals in a quiet, dark, secluded place, and the free 

 use of antispasmodics and anodj-nes. Opium in dram doses ever}^ two 

 hours, or laudanum in oiuice doses at similar intervals, will often suf- 

 fice. When the more urgent s3'mptoms have subsided these doses may 

 be repeated thrice a day till all excitement passes off or until the pas- 

 sages have become relaxed and prepared for parturition. Yihurnum 

 yrunr folium.^ in ounce doses, may be added if necessary. Should par- 

 turition become inevitable, it may be favored and way necessary 

 assistance furnished. 



DIFFICULT PARTURITION FROM NARROAV PELVIS. 



A disproportion between the fetus got by a largo stallion and the 

 pelvis of a small dam is a serious obstacle to parturition, sometimes 

 seen in the mare. This is not the rule, however, as the foal up to 

 birth usually accommodates itself to the size of the dam, as illustrated 

 in the successful crossing of Percheron stallions on mustjxng mares. 

 If the disproportion is too great the oul}'^ resort is embryotomy. 



FRACTURED HIP BONES. 



More commonly the obstruction comes from distortion and narrow- 

 ing of the pelvis as the result of fractures. (Plate XV, fig. 2.) 



