370 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



peritonitis than the cow it may be concluded that both these 

 sources of failure are more probable in the equine subject. 

 When the case is intractable, though the hand may be 

 easily introduced, the instrument shown in Plate VIII, Fig. 

 7, may be used. Each hole at the small end. of the instru- 

 ment has passed through it a stout cord with a running noose, 

 to be passed around two feet or other portion of the foetus 

 which it 'may be possible to reach. The cords are then 

 drawn tight and fixed around the handle of the instrument; 

 then by using the cross-handle as a lever the foetus and womb 

 may be rotated in a direction opposite to that causing the 

 obstruction. During this process the hand must be intro- 

 duced to feel when the twist has been undone. This method 

 may be supplemented, if necessary, by rolling the mare as 

 described above. 



EFFUSION OF BLOOD IN THE VAGINAL WALLS. 



This is common as a result of difficult parturition, but it 

 may occur from local injury before that act and may seriously 

 interfere with it. This condition is easily recognized by the 

 soft, doughy swelling so characteristic of blood clots, and by 

 the dark-red color of the mucous membrane. I have laid 

 open such swellings with the knife as late as ten days before 

 parturition, evacuated the clots, and dressed the wound daily 

 with an astringent lotion (sulphate of zinc one drachm, car- 

 bolic acid one drachm, water one quart). A similar resort 

 might be had, if necessary, during parturition. 



CALCULUS (STONE) AND TUMOR IN THE BLADDER. 



The pressure upon the bladder containing a stone or a 

 tumor may prove so painful that the mare will .voluntarily 

 suppress the labor pains. Examination of the bladder with 

 the finger introduced through the urethra will detect the 

 offending agent. A stone should be extracted with forceps 

 (see "Lithotomy"). The large papillary tumors which I 

 have met with in the mare's bladder have been invariably 

 delicate in texture and could be removed piecemeal by for- 

 ceps. Fortunately mares affected in this way rarely breed. 



