350 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



the womb is felt at its anterior end. This is opened by the 

 careful insertion of one finger at a time until the fingers 

 have been passed through the constricted neck into the open 

 cavity of the womb. The introduction is made with a gentle, 

 rotary motion, and all precipitate violence is avoided, as 

 abrasion, laceration or other cause of irritation is likely to 

 interfere with the retention of the semen and with impreg- 

 nation. If the neck of the womb is rigid and unyielding 

 from the induration which follows inflammation a rare con- 

 dition in the mare, though common in the cow more force 

 will be requisite, and it may even be needful to incise the neck 

 to the depth of one-sixth of an inch in four or more opposite 

 directions prior to forcible dilatation. The incision may be 

 made with a probe-pointed knife, and should be done by a pro- 

 fessional man if possible. The subsequent dilatation may be 

 best effected by the slow expansion of sponge or seaweed 

 tents inserted into the narrow canal. In such casas it is 

 best to let the wounds of the neck heal before putting to 

 horse. An imperforate hymen may be freely incised in a 

 crucial manner until the passage will admit the human 

 hand. An ordinary knife may be used for this purpose, and 

 after the operation the stallion may be admitted at once or 

 only after the wounds have healed. 



INDICATIONS OF PREGNANCY. 



As the mere fact of service by the stallion does not insure 

 pregnancy it is important that the result should be deter- 

 mined, to save the mare from unnecessary and dangerous 

 work or medication when actually in foal, and to obviate 

 wasteful and needless precautions when she is not. 



The cessation and non-recurrence of the symptoms of heat 

 (horsing) is a most significant though not infallible sign of 

 conception. If the sexual excitement speedily subsides and 

 the mare persistently refuses the stallion for a month she is 

 probably pregnant. In very exceptional cases a mare will 

 accept a second or third service after weeks or months, 

 though pregnant, and some mares will refuse the horse per- 

 sistently, though conception has not taken place, and this in 

 spite of warm weather, good condition of the mare, and lib- 



