170 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



of the act to leave them in a state of perfect quietude for 

 several hours. 



Sterility in the mare may be due to age or prolonged 

 continence, especially where associated with high condi- 

 tion, or it may arise from abnormal conformation, or diseases 

 of the womb, or the existence of painful wounds, or diseases' 

 in the region of the feet; it is, however, usually induced in 

 mares prone to accumulate fat, by a superabundant supply 

 of highly-stimulating food and the absence of sufficient 

 work. 



Medicinal treatment or surgical operations in some rare 

 cases may cure sterility arising from a suspension of the 

 uterine functions or abnormalities of the organ; and the 

 operation of neurotomy has been adopted with success upon 

 mares rendered sterile by acutely painful foot diseases. The 

 treatment for over-plethoric mares must be that of reduction 

 to low, or even poor' condition. 



With the exception that the venereal excitement usually 

 diminishes or disappears, and the animal becomes lazy and 

 quiet, the signs that a mare has been impregnated do not 

 become apparent for some time, nor is the periodical reap- 

 pearance of "heat" to be regarded as a conclusive evidence 

 of non-conception. It is not impossible for oestrum to co- 

 exist with impregnation. The inconstancy in appearance of 

 the objective symptoms of pregnancy renders that condition 

 but problematical (especially in mares which ordinarily 

 show little appearance of "oestrum") until the sixth or sev- 

 enth month, when the foetal movements may usually be dis- 

 cerned in the flank, unless manual exploration of the uterus 

 by vaginal examination is adopted for the purpose of ascer- 

 taining whether conception has taken place. Valuable as 

 the operation is for determining the state of the uterus dur- 

 ing the primary months of gestation, it should never be em- 

 ployed except in cases of urgent necessity, on account of the 

 danger and possible death of the foetus, which may be appre- 

 hended to follow its adoption with an irritable mare. 



The period of gestation in the mare occupies, as a rule, 

 from 330 to 360 days, during nearly the whole of which time 

 it is of great importance that opportunity be afforded for a 



