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HORSE DOCTOR. 



ibe expected period of foaling, the cart-mare may be 

 kept at moderate labor. 



When nearly half the time of pregnancy has elapsed, 

 the mare should have a little bettev food. She should 

 be allowed one or two feeds of corn in the day. 



The parturition being over, the mare should be 

 turned into some well-sheliered pasture, with a hovel or 

 shed to run into when she pleases. 



In five or six months, according to the growth of the 

 foal, it may be weaned. 



There is no principle of greater importance than the 

 liberal feeding of the foal during the whole of his growth, 

 and at this time in particular. 



CASTRATION. 



For the common as^ricultural horse the age of four or 

 five months will be the most proper time, or, at least be- 

 fore he is weaned. Few horses are lost when cut at 

 tbat age. Care, how^ever, should be taken that the 

 weather is not too hot, nor the flies too numerous. 



If the horse is designed either for the carriage or for 

 lieavy draught, the farmer should not think of castrating 

 him until he is at least twelve months old. 



The manner in which the operation is performed will 

 be properly left to the veterinary surgeon. 



RINGBONE. 



Ringbone is a deposit of bony matter in one of the 

 pasterns, and usually near the joint. It rapidly spreads, 

 and involves not only the pastern-bones, but the carti- 

 la«^es of ihe foot, and spreading around the pasterns and 

 cartilages, thus derives its name. 



The pasterns first become connected together by bone 

 instead of ligament, and thence results what is called 

 an anchlosed or fixed joint. From this joint the disease 

 proceeds to the cartilages of the foot, and to the union 

 between the lower pastern, and the cofTin and navicular 



