398 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



may be the pressure on the general mass while those portions 

 next the vulva are gradually pushed in with the hands; or 

 the extreme lowest point (the end of the horn) may be turned 

 within itself and pushed forward into the vagina by the 

 closed fist, the return being assisted by manipulations by the 

 other hand, and even by those of assistants. By either mode 

 the manipulations may be made with almost perfect safety 

 so long as the organ is closely wrapped in the bandage. 

 Once a portion has been introduced into the vagina the rest 

 will usually follow with increasing ease, and the operation 

 should be completed with the hand and arm extended the 

 full length within the womb and moved from point to point 

 so as to straighten out all parts of the organ and insure that 

 no portion still remains inverted within another portion. 

 Should any such partial inversion be left it will give rise to 

 straining, under the force of which it will gradually increase 

 until the whole mass will be protruded as before. The next 

 step is to apply a truss as an effectual mechanical barrier to 

 further escape of the womb through the vulva. The simplest 

 is made with two inch ropes, each about eighteen feet long. 

 These are each doubled arid interwoven at the bend, as seen 

 in Plate VIII, Fig. 4. The ring formed by the interlacing 

 of the two ropes is adjusted around the vulva, the two ends 

 of the one rope are carried up on the right and left of the 

 tail and along the spine, being wound round each other in 

 their course, and are finally tied to the upper part of the 

 collar encircling the neck. The remaining two ends, belong- 

 ing to the other rope, are carried downward and forward 

 between the thighs and thence forward and upward on the 

 sides of the belly and chest to be attached to the right and 

 left sides of the collar. These ropes are drawn tightly 

 enough to keep closely applied to the opening without chaf- 

 ing, and will fit still more securely when the mare raises her 

 back to strain. It is desirable to tie the mare short so that 

 she may be unable to lie down for a day or two, and she 

 should be kept in a stall with the hind parts higher than the 

 fore. Violent straining may be checked by full doses of opium 

 (one-half drachm), and any costiveness or diarrhea should be 

 obviated by a suitable laxative or binding diet. 



