86 STRUCTURE AND ECONOMY OF THE HORSE. 



CHAP. XIX. 



ON THE FUNCTIONS OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS, AND THE 

 GROWTH OF THE FCETUS. 



[The purpose of the complicated structures which we have de- 

 scribed, both in the male and the female, is the preservation of the 

 species. For this object, it is not only essential that the seminal 

 fluid should be ejected into the uterus, but that the mare should 

 be in a proper state to receive it. The human female is in a state 

 fit for breeding all the year round ; but in the mare this condi- 

 tion only exists at the period of horsing, which is gensrally con- 

 fined to the spring, and early part of the summer. Mares go 

 eleven months with foal ; but they usually exhibit the disposi- 

 tion to copulate — which is well known by the increased heat and 

 swelling of the parts of generation, and the emission of a Avhite 

 fluid — about nine or ten days after gestation, and afterwards, 

 at intervals of a few days at first, and then about three weeks 

 from this time; the brood mare is consequently enabled to breed 

 a colt per annum, for several successive years. The stallion 

 being highly fed, although he impregnates a great many mares 

 in the course of the season, is yet very soon excited to the act 

 by the presence of the salacious female. The testicles are 

 drawn up and the penis is quickly erected by the sudden accu- 

 mulation of blood in its cavernous substance and glans, which 

 by the angle formed at the root of the penis is prevented return- 

 ing. In this state, the leap having been taken, the penis enter3 

 the female parts, and the glans, by successive efforts, is pushed 

 against the os uteri, to Avhich it exactly corresponds. The fric- 

 tion of the parts produces exquisite pleasure to both sexes, at the 

 climax of which the semen is ejected into the uterus with con- 

 siderable force. This done, the act is completed on the part of 

 the male, the penis becomes flaccid, and is withdrawn, and the 

 feeling of lassitude succeeds the intensity of pleasure. 



The female often rejects the semen shortly afterwards, to pre- 

 vent which, it is sometimes customary to throw cold water over 

 the loins to diminish the excitement of the parts, and thus cause 

 them to retain the prolific fluid. Bleeding has been sometimes 

 practised with the same view, and, it is stated, with success. 



When the mare is impregnated, the os uteri is closed, and 

 there is no longer a disposition for the horse; this rvile, however, 

 is not without exception. 



The phenomena which supervene in the female uterus after a 

 successful uupregnation have been the subject of much dispute, 

 and are still surrounded with mystery. The Ovaria are found 



