36 THE HORSE 



as level as possible and free from open drains and 

 ditches, as the chances of ill befalling her are 

 materially reduced thereby. It is a wise precaution 

 too to see that all projecting stakes and nails should 

 be removed from the fences and gates, and if there 

 is a hovel in the field the sides of this should also be 

 carefully gone over in order to prevent the possibility 

 of injury to the mare, as her size will be increasing 

 day by day. 



When the day of foaling is close at hand the mare 

 should be placed in a spacious box, which, though 

 properly ventilated^ should be free from draughts, 

 where she can be under the observation of her 

 attendant, and it may be here suggested that as it 

 is undesirable to disturb her more than is necessary, 

 it is a good plan to try and arrange for some peep- 

 holes through which she can frequently be observed 

 from the outside without her box being entered. As 

 a rule a mare drops her foal whilst standing up, and 

 generally, and especially when there are no com- 

 plications, all is over in a very short time ; the navel- 

 string of the foal being broken as the foal drops 

 gently on the straw. 



The cause of joint ill in the foal is the entrance of 

 specific germs into the wound at the navel or end 

 of the navel string before this has been completely 

 healed up after birth, and to prevent the admission 

 of these dangerous organisms the greatest cleanliness 

 is necessary not only of the wound itself, but of the 

 stable or shed in which the foal is kept. If a 

 number of foals are reared in the same establishment, 

 the appearance of the disease should be the signal 

 for immediate attention to the others. This should 

 consist of daily dressing of the navel end or sore 

 with some disinfectant, such as carbolic acid and 

 olive oil, one part of the former to fifteen of the 

 latter, applied with a bit of sponge ; or, after the 

 wound has been cleaned with tepid water, the part 



