GENITAL ORGANS. 185 



apparatus in the female. This orifice, situated below and at some dis- 

 tance from the anus, has the form of a vertical chink, in which can be 

 recognized two lateral lips and two commissures, the one inferior and the 

 other superior. 



The lips (labiai) are in apposition, the one against the other, in 

 ordinary conditions. The skin which covers them is fine, unctuous, 

 devoid of hairs, usually black, and very adherent. It becomes contin- 

 uous, at their free border, with the internal mucous membrane. 



Of the commissures, the superior is acute ; the inferior is rounded, 

 and shows, when the Iabia3 are separated, a single globular organ, the 

 clitoris, a veritable penis in miniature, lodged in a mucous fold which 

 constitutes a sort of prepuce, of a rosy color, sometimes black or 

 marbled. 



During the period of heat (menstruation) the vulva is slightly open, 

 swollen, warmer, more sensitive, and all the parts covered by mucous 

 membrane are bright red. From the inferior commissure there is a 

 moderate discharge of liquid, which agglutinates the lips. The animal 

 frequently ejects a small quantity of urine, which is followed by several 

 convulsive protrusions of the clitoris. She is then very excitable, diffi- 

 cult to approach, inclined to kicking, and provoked by the least touch. 

 She is called pissy when this condition is habitual ; ovariotomy (removal 

 of the ovaries) may sometimes remedy this; at other times it is 

 without effect. 



Mares which have been pregnant generally present longitudinal 

 folds upon the external face and inferior part of the lips of the vulva. 

 These folds increase with the frequency of parturition. In old and 

 very emaciated mares the vulvo-anal region is strongly excavated, a fact 

 which may render the introduction of the penis somewhat uncertain. 



In certain cases fillies are ringed in order to prevent copulation 

 when they run in pasture with males. This operation consists simply 

 in approximating the lips of the vulva by means of metallic threads 

 inserted transversely from side to side and disposed in superposed 

 rings, or simply in protecting the vulvar opening by means of a wire 

 netting. 



Although this practice opposes a copulation by preventing the 

 introduction of the penis, it fails with those animals that are inclined 

 to accomplish this act to satiate their imperative desires, and, on this 

 account, it is not free from danger. The stallion in his efforts some- 

 times wounds the lips of the vulva, lacerates them with his teeth, or 

 commits an error of place nearly always fatal to the female, without 

 considering the wounds which may be inflicted upon his own organs. 



