196 The Care of Animals 



which is an abnormal sexual excitement. The animal 

 being in heat very frequently, or continuously, will 

 take service by a bull, but will rarely become preg- 

 nant. Unless the cause of the sexual excitement can 

 be located and removed (which is seldom), the best 

 treatment is to spay the animal and fatten her for the 

 market. 



Nervous, vicious animals are not so likely to breed 

 as those of a mil'der temperament. Aged animals, 

 especially mares, that have not been bred for some 

 time, are extremely difficult to impregnate. This is 

 well illustrated by the difficulty experienced in breed- 

 ing mares that have been used for racing until they 

 are ten or twelve years old, and are then retired for 

 breeding purposes. A large percentage of them fail 

 to become pregnant. Mares that have been bred 

 frequently often will continue to breed after they are 

 twenty years of age. Fat animals are seldom good 

 breeders, and it is often difficult to impregnate them. 

 Animals intended for breeding should be in very 

 moderate flesh. Active exercise, just before the ani- 

 mal is fed, is conducive to fertilization. 



In the large animals, such as the mare and the cow, 

 it is usually an excellent plan, when there is difficulty 

 in getting them to breed, to "open the womb." This 

 is done by inserting the oiled hand and arm into the 

 vagina, finding the opening into the womb, and grad- 

 ually dilating it by inserting one or more fingers, 

 until the passage is considerably enlarged. A sponge 

 tent can also be inserted, which absorbs moisture, 

 swells, and automatically dilates the passage. In some 



