STALLIONS, BROOD MARES AND FOALS. 149 



ducing an instrument with smooth, rounded blades, fashioned 

 after the manner of a glove-stretcher, and gradually dilating 

 the passage. It is an easy process in the mare, on account 

 of the shortness and dilatability of the mouth of the womb. 



Acute disease of the ovaries may prevent conception in 

 two different ways: 1st. It may prevent the development of 

 the ovum or germ of the future animal; and, 2d, it may 

 cause such sympathetic excitement and contractions in the 

 womb that the ovum cannot be fertilized and retained. 



1st. The failure to develop ova is met with when the whole 

 of both ovaries are involved in certain diseases. When, for 

 example, these organs have undergone complete fatty de- 

 generation, or when they are the seat of extensive cysts, 

 tuberculous deposits or cancer. The fatty change is ex- 

 tremely common in the improved breeds of cattle, sheep and 

 swine. The tuberculous and cancerous taints run in certain 

 families, and are to be mainly obviated by rejecting from 

 breeding such as are strongly predisposed. To prevent 

 fatty degeneration we should avoid excess of all foods that are 

 especially rich in oil or that tend greatly to the production 

 of fat. Among these may be named Indian corn, linseed 

 cake, sorghum and beet. The females should further have 

 a full allowance of exercise to keep the lungs in full activity 

 and favor the oxidation of the fat-producing elements of the 

 food. Absolute rest in hot, close buildings is to be especially 

 avoided. 



2d. Sympathetic Excitement of the Womb. When one ovary, 

 or only a portion of an ovary, is affected, the ovum may still 

 be produced; but such is the sympathetic excitement of the 

 womb that the fertilizing semen or the impregnated ovum is 

 invariably rejected. Cases of this kind usually come in heat 

 at irregular intervals, and in some instances sexual excite- 

 ment is almost continuous so that the subject will neither 

 breed nor fatten. They can usually be recognized by their 

 history and by the examination of the ovaries by the hand 

 introduced through the straight gut (rectum}. Unless in the 

 case of slight congestions, or other removable disorder, such 

 ovarian disease can only be treated by the removal of the 

 diseased ovary, and if both are affected the animal is neces- 



