368 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



struct or prevent the passage of the foetus. Gray mares, 

 which are so subject to black pigment tumors (melanosis) on 

 the tail, anus, and vulva, are the most likely to suffer from 

 this. Still more rarely the wall of the vagina becomes re- 

 laxed, and being pressed by a mass of intestines will protrude 

 through the lips of the vulva as a hernial sac, containing a 

 part of the bowels. Where a tumor is small it may only re- 

 tard and not absolutely prevent parturition. A hernial pro- 

 trusion of the wall of the vagina may be pressed back and 

 emptied so that the body of the foetus engaging in the pas- 

 sage may find no further obstacle. When a tumor is too 

 large to allow delivery the only resort is to remove it, but 

 before proceeding it must be clearly made out that the ob- 

 struction is a mass of diseased tissue, and not a sac contain- 

 ing intestines. If the tumor hangs by a neck it can usually 

 be most safely removed by the ecraseur, the chain being 

 passed around the pedicle and gradually tightened until that 

 is torn through. 



HERNIA OF THE WOMB. 



The rupture of the musculo-fibrous floor of the belly and 

 the escape of the gravid womb into a sac formed by the peri- 

 toneum and skin hanging towards the ground is described 

 by all veterinary obstetricians, yet it is very rarely seen in 

 the mare. The form of the foetus can be felt through the 

 walls of the sac, so that it is easy to recognize the condition. 

 Its cause is usually external violence, though it may start 

 from an umbilical hernia. When the period of parturition 

 arrives the first effort should be to return the foetus within 

 the proper abdominal cavity, and this can sometimes be ac- 

 complished with the aid of a stout blanket gradually tight- 

 ened around the belly. This falling, the mare may be placed 

 on her side or back and gravitation brought to the aid of 

 manipulation in securing the return. Even after the hernia 

 has been reduced the relaxed state of the womb and abdomi- 

 nal walls may serve to hinder parturition, in which case the 

 oiled hand must be introduced through the vagina, the foetus 

 brought into position, and traction coincident with the labor 

 pains employed to secure delivery. 



