DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 169 



exudation around the neck of the womb, which hinders untwisting. 

 The first of these conditions occurs early in the horse from the detach- 

 ment of the fetal membranes from the wall of the womb, and as the 

 mare is more subject to fatal peritonitis than the cow, it may be con- 

 cluded that both these sources of failure are more probable in the 

 equine subject. 



When the case is intractable, though the hand may be easily intro- 

 duced, the instrument shown in Plate IX, fig. T, may be used. 

 Each hole at the small end of the instrument has passed through it a 

 stout cord with a running noose, to be passed around two feet or 

 other portion of the fetus which it may be possible to reach. The 

 cords are then drawn tight and fixed around the handle of the instru- 

 ment, then by using the cross-handle as a lever the fetus and womb 

 ma}' be rotated in a direction opposite to that causing the obstruction. 

 During this process the hand must be introduced to feel when the 

 tAvist has been undone. This method may be supplemented, if neces- 

 sary, by rolling the mare as described above. 



EFFUSION OF BLOOD IN THE VAGINAL WALLS. 



This is common as a result of difficult parturition, but it may occur 

 from local injury before that act, and may seriously interfere with it. 

 This condition is easily re(!Ognized . by the soft, doughy swelling so 

 characteristic of blood clots, and by the dark-red color of the mucous 

 membrane. I have laid open such swellings with the knife as late as 

 ten da3'S before parturition, evacuated the clots, and dressed the wound 

 dail}^ with an astringent lotion (sulphate of zinc 1 dram, carbolic acid 

 1 dram, water 1 quart). A similar resort might be had, if necessary, 

 during parturition. 



CALCULUS (stone) AND TUMOR IN THE BLADDER. 



The pressure upon the bladder containing a stone or a tumor may 

 prove so painful that the mare will voluntarily suppress the labor 

 pains. Examination of the bladder with the finger introduced through 

 the urethra will detect the offending agent. A stone should be 

 extracted with forceps (see "Lithotomy"). The large papillary 

 tumors which I have met with in the mare's bladder have been inva- 

 riably delicate in texture and could be removed piecemeal by forceps. 

 Foi'tuuatel}^, mares affected in this way rarely breed. 



IMPACTION OF TI?E RECTUM WITH FECES. 



In some animals, with more or less paralysis or weakness of the tail 

 and rectum, the rectum may become so impacted with solid feces that 

 the mare is unable to discharge them, and the accumulation both by 

 reason of the mechanical obstruction and the pain caused b}^ pressure 



