366 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



rendered natural, traction on the foetus must be made only 

 during a labor pain. If a mare is inclined to kick it may be 

 necessary to apply hobbles to protect the operator. 



PREMATURE LABOR PAINS. 



These may be brought on by any violent exertion, use 

 under the saddle, or in heavy draft, or in rapid paces, or in 

 travel by rail or sea, blows, kicks, crushing by other animals 

 in a doorway or gate. Excessive action of purgative or diu- 

 retic agents, or of agents that irritate the bowels or kidneys, 

 like arsenic, Paris green, all caustic salts and acids, and 

 acrid and narcotico-acrid vegetables, are equally injurious. 

 Finally the ingestion of agents that stimulate the action of 

 the gravid womb (ergot of rye or of other grasses, smut, 

 various fungi of fodders, rue, savin, cotton-root, etc.) may 

 bring on labor pains prematurely. 



Besides the knowledge that parturition is not yet due, 

 there will be less enlargement, redness and swelling of the 

 vulva, less mucous discharge, less fillingof the udder, and 

 less appearances of wax and probably none of milk from the 

 ends of the teats. The oiled hand introduced into the vulva 

 will not enter with the ease usual at full term, and the neck 

 of the womb will be felt not only closed, but with its project- 

 ing papillae, through which it is perforated, not yet flattened 

 down and effaced, as at full term. The symptoms are indeed 

 those of threatened abortion, but at such an advanced stage 

 of gestation as is compatible with the survival of the off- 

 spring. 



The treatment consists in the separation of the mare from 

 all other animals in a quiet, dark, secluded place, and the 

 free use of anti-spasmodics and anodynes. Opium in drachm 

 doses every two hours, or laudanum in ounce doses at similar 

 intervals, will often suffice. When the more urgent symp- 

 toms have subsided these doses maybe repeated thrice a day 

 till all excitement passes off or until the passages have be- 

 come relaxed and prepared for parturition. Viburnum pru- 

 nifolium, in ounce doses, may be added if necessary. Should 

 parturition become inevitable it may be favored and any 

 necessary assistance furnished. 



