THE HORSE. 19 



profitable precaution, in respect to the mare ; more 

 especially in the case of twins, from the weight of 

 which the mare will often appear dull and sleepy, 

 with a temporary loss of appetite. A cart mare of 

 mine, thoughtlessly retained too late in work, cast 

 remarkably fine and large twin colt foals. In the 

 case of twins, one of them (the strongest) may be 

 easily brought up by hand, on cow's milk • in which 

 mode, the old racers, Cade, Milksop, and others 

 since, were nurtured, having lost their dams. Admi- 

 nistering drugs to the mare which has stolen a leap, 

 in order to procure abortion, is an act of cruelty, and 

 often permanently injurious to her constitution; the 

 attempt to effect it by manual operation, detestable. 



The term of gestation with the mare is variable ; 

 from eleven months and odd days, to three hundred 

 and sixty-three days, which latter number, I suppose, 

 may be deemed the utmost. She is supposed to carry 

 her first foal longer than the succeeding, and to go 

 longer with a colt than with a filly. Sh§ brings 

 forth in a standing position ; seldom in the day time, 

 but by night, or early in the morning. The mare is 

 perhaps liable to as little labour or error in parturition 

 as any female whatever. In case of an exception, 

 timely recourse should be had to some one skilful in 

 the practice of animal obstetrics. The approach of par- 

 turition is indicated a few days previous, by the swell- 

 ing of the udder, the appearance of milk, the swollen 

 state of the matrix, and the thrusting out of the tail. 

 At this period, the mare should be watched night and 

 day, lest by her choosing an improper place in which 

 to bring forth, her produce may be lost ; a risk which 



