322 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



great sexual excitement and violent efforts in the approach- 

 ing stallion, especially if he is large and powerful while the 

 mare is young and this her first experience; or the reverse, 

 when the mare is small, old, overworked, in poor condition 

 and low-spirited. Among causes of a mechanical nature may 

 be mentioned obliteration or stricture of the vagina; super- 

 sensitiveness, with spasmodic closure of the vagina; vaginal 

 or uterine tumors; engorgement or induration of the neck of 

 the womb; obliteration or great narrowing of the canal of 

 the neck of the womb, or its closure by glutinous exudation; 

 occlusion .of the fallopian tubes (which connect the womb 

 with the ovaries); morbid or abnormal condition of the ova- 

 ries. All morbid discharges, due to retention of a portion 

 or all of the after-birth, or to catarrh or leucorrhcea (so- 

 called whites), effectively prevent pregnancy. I coincide 

 with the opinion of experienced breeders, that pasturage 

 upon red clover is among the fertile causes of barrenness in 

 mares; and I believe that impotence in mares in this case is 

 due to the honey contained in the flowers, this opinion being 

 based upon the fact that a continued consumption of pure 

 honey will produce impotence in both sexes of mankind. 

 Nymphomania is also a cause of barrenness. 



Many of the conditions named above are of a permanent 

 character; others are amenable to treatment, and may be 

 successfully avoided, remedied or removed. Thus, too great 

 excitability of the mare may be overcome by starving her 

 during twenty-four hours (not withholding drinking water), 

 and driving her till she begins to tire just before service. 

 The removal of tumors should be effected by surgical means; 

 closure of the neck of the womb may be overcome by digital 

 manipulation, which is best effected during heat. When 

 due to supersensitiveness, or spasmodic contraction, a sponge, 

 saturated with fluid extract of belladonna, may be inserted in 

 the vagina and brought in contact with the neck of the 

 womb, and remain inserted during an hour before service, 

 when it should be removed, the parts cleansed with warm 

 water, and the stallion admitted. The cases of barrenness 

 which are most likely to yield to treatment are those where 

 signs of heat occur at regular intervals, as here the cause is 



