174 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



mere occurrence of abortion in one of their companions. 

 The attention required by a mare after abortion materially 

 depends upon the indications of her general health. It very 

 frequently happens that the placental membranes are re- 

 tained in the uterus; these should be removed before decom- 

 position of their component parts is possible, and the mare 

 should not be covered again until every appearance due to 

 the mishap has entirely subsided. 



The characteristic signs that the gestative period has 

 been fully and naturally completed, and that parturition 

 may be shortly expected to take place, are very pronounced 

 and so familiar to all persons who have had any experience 

 in the management of brood mares that they need not be 

 enumerated. 



The natural instinctive desire for shade and solitude ex- 

 perienced by the mare at this crisis should be indulged by 

 placing her in a warm, roomy and well-littered loose box, 

 so arranged that the progress she makes can be constantly 

 ascertained without causing her annoyance by interruption. 

 Normal parturition in the mare is very rapid'; at her full 

 time and with the foetus naturally placed the act is generally 

 accomplished in a short space of time and without assist- 

 ance. 



The sense of uneasiness created by the presence of the 

 fully-developed foetus determines contraction of the abdomi- 

 nal muscles and diaphragm, as well as the walls of the womb 

 itself; at the same time the orifice of the latter organ be- 

 comes dilated, succeeding efforts of expulsion push the muz- 

 zle and fore feet of the foetus further through the neck of 

 the uterus, in which situation they may be recognized im- 

 mersed in the fluids of the yet unruptured membranes. 

 More violent pains then force the head and shoulders through 

 the pelvis, and another last contraction expels the posterior 

 parts and completes the act. 



If the labor is prolonged and the pains are very strong, a 

 quiet and careful examination should be made, for the pur- 

 pose of ascertaining whether there is sufficient room for the 

 foetus to pass through the pelvic arch, and also to determine 

 whether the foal occupies a natural position. In the first 



