46 THE STOCK owner's ADVISER. 



associated with a horse larger than herself. In severe cases 

 anaesthetics shonld be used to relieve pain. When there is diffi- 

 culty in producing the fetus, recourse should be had to the ergot 

 of rye. Half-ounce doses should be given every half hour. The 

 manipulation should be gentle and continued, using as little 

 force as possible. Tlie mare should be assisted gently during 

 each labor pain. If after a certain time some progress has been 

 made with the ergot, it may be suspended for awhile; but if all 

 progress is evidently suspended recourse must be had to the par- 

 turition instruments. Such cases should be intrusted to the vete- 

 rinary surgeon, as he will have perhaps the proper instruments 

 to make the case easy and free from danger of injury to the mare. 

 The abnormal presentations of the fetus in the lower animals are 

 frequent, and found in almost every conceivable shape. Mon- 

 strosities are sometimes met with. By this is meant a deformed 

 fetus. Such can only be removed by the performance of em- 

 bryotomy, and should always be entrusted to the surgeon as 

 early as possible. In some cases it is advisable to perform the 

 Csesarian operation, a removal of the fetus from the side. Occa- 

 sionally labor pains come on and persist for a considerable length 

 of time, but it is observed that, instead of being strong and 

 powerful as they should be, the contractions are weak and inade- 

 quate to the task of expelling the fetus. In such a case the 

 bladder and rectum should be emptied and stimulants admin- 

 istered. Pressure may be applied in the region of the utenis, the 

 OS uteri should be smeared with belladonna tr. and ergot of rye 

 used. Injection of tepid water into the vagina is of great as- 

 sistance. 



After delivery, if tlie umbilical artery does not sever of its 

 own accord, it should be ligatured by a silk cord about two inches 

 from the umbilical opening and severed from the fetal mem- 

 branes. 



Retention of the Placenta. — Petention of the placenta be- 

 yond a reasonable length of time frequently occurs. The symp- 

 tom generally present in such case is the umbilical cord hanging 



