BREEDING. 287 



ditch, or cutting— a thing very commonly attempted in the 

 country— but otherwise she ought not to be subjected to 

 any kind of interference. This, I should observe, applies 

 as a matter of course to strong healthy animals, such as are 

 accustomed to pasturing out in almost every sort of weather , 

 in other cases, it will be well to have a box at hand, thickly 

 littered over, and lined about the walls with piled-up trusses 



of straw. 



If you are the mare's owner, and that she knows you 

 and is comforted by the sound of your voice, keep close by 

 her, and banish all others to a distance when her sufferings 

 begin. These will most likely be short, but severe, and she 

 will not in all probability bear them very patiently. Lead 

 her quietly into the box that you have prepared ; and 

 on no account permit any fuss or excitement, or ^ny peeping, 

 to take place about her. In cases where much heaving 

 of the flanks has occurred, I have seen small doses of 

 sulphuric ether and cold water — an ounce of the former 

 to three pints of the latter, well blended— given with 

 seeming advantage ; but I do not undertake to advocate 

 any physicking whatever at so excessively trying a period, 

 preferring for my own part to leave Nature to herself, 

 except where danger is anticipated : in which case it will be 

 best to send at once for the most skilled assistance possible. 



As soon as matters are safely over, leave parent and 

 offspring to themselves, ensuring for them the utmost 

 quietude, as well as perfect freedom from even the very 

 slightest noise. All that the mare will stand in need of at 

 the conclusion of her troubles will be a pail of warm, gruel, 



