46 The Practical Stud Groom. 



ligatured and severed with the scissors. Apart from this 

 latter reason, considerable importance attaches to keeping 

 the enveloping sac intact. Once the nostrils are uncovered, 

 the foal takes in air through them, the lungs are expanded, 

 and the foal may be said to start its separate existence, and 

 in case of delivery being unduly prolonged, there is risk of 

 suffocation from pressure of the mare's pelvis on the foal's 

 ribs. 



The author's practice is to leave the foal's hind legs 

 within the vagina up to the stifles; then, with the fingers, 

 swiftly to slit the enveloping membrane, simultaneously 

 freeing the nostrils and exposing the navel cord ; switch on 

 the electric lamp, place it where its rays fall full on the 

 navel, take one ligature from between the teeth, tie very 

 tightly round the navel cord about an inch from the foal's 

 belly ; take another ligature and tie about three inches nearer 

 the mare, with the scissors cut the cord between the two 

 ligatures, seize the atomizer, hold the severed stump in one 

 hand, and spray it well with Solution No. 1 with the other. 

 Take the foal by the two fore legs, drag it completely out of 

 the mare and round to her head, with its back towards the 

 mare, so that she cannot lick the dressing off the navel. 

 Allow a minute for No. 1 Solution to penetrate, then quietly 

 enter the box and apply No. 2 Solution in the same way. 

 When this has evaporated, which it will do in a couple of 

 minutes, have an assistant (with well-disinfected hands) to 

 help in painting on No. 3 Solution. Turn the foal over, 

 with its belly facing the mare, so that she can continue to 

 reach and lick it, which occupation will probably deter her 

 from scrambling to her feet. Let the assistant grasp the 

 foal's stifle in his right hand and the severed stump in his 

 left ; the chief operator places his knee on the fleshy part of 

 the foal's neck, leaving both hands free, one to hold the 



