DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 357 



and pendulous and the swelling fluctuates under pressure, 

 though the solid body of the foetus can still be felt to strike 

 against the hand pressed into the swelling. If the hand is 

 introduced into the vagina the wound is found to be tense 

 and round, with the projecting rounded neck effaced, while 

 the hand in the rectum will detect the rounded swollen mass 

 of the womb so firm and tense that the body of the foetus 

 cannot be felt within it. The mare moves weakly and un- 

 steadily on its limbs, having difficulty in supporting the 

 great weight, and in bad cases there may be loss of appetite, 

 stocking (dropsy) of the hind limbs, difficult breathing, and 

 colicky pains. The tension may lead to abortion, or a slow, 

 laborious parturition may occur at the usual time. 



Treatment consists in relieving the tension and accumula- 

 tion by puncturing the foetal membrane with a canula and 

 trocar introduced through the neck of the womb and the 

 withdrawal of the trocar so as to leave the canula in situ. 

 Or the membranes may be punctured with the finger and 

 the excess of liquid allowed to escape. This may bring on 

 abortion, cr the wound may close and gestation continue to 

 the full term. A course of tonics (gentian root two drachms, 

 sulphate of iron two drachms, daily) will do much to fortify 

 the system and counteract further excessive effusion. 



DROPSY OF THE LIMBS, PERINEUM, AND ABDOMEN. 



The disposition to dropsy often shows itself in the hind 

 and even in the fore limbs, around and beneath the vulva 

 (perinaeum) and beneath the abdomen and chest. The affec- 

 ted parts are swollen and pit on pressure, but are not espe- 

 cially tender and subside more or less perfectly under exer- 

 cise, hand-rubbing and bandages. In obstinate cases rubbing 

 with the following liniment may be resorted to: Compound 

 tincture of iodine, two ounces; tannic acid, one-half drachm; 

 water, ten ounces. It does not last over a day or two after 

 parturition. 



CRAMPS OF THE HIND LIMBS. 



The pressure of the distended womb on the nerves and 

 blocd- vessels of the pelvis besides conducing to dropsy occa- 

 sionally causes cramps of the hind limbs. The limb is 



