6o Ve/er/nary Obstetrics 



bred at two years, necessiating her destruction at three years, 

 because of irremediable dystokia. It is, therefore, desirable that 

 young females which come in estrum very early in life, should 

 be securely segregated from mature males, not alone because of 

 the undesirability of very early breeding, but in order to avoid 

 serious injuries from disparity in size. It is also essential to 

 remember that a male breeding animal regularly confined, in 

 case of accidental escape, will attempt rape upon the most im- 

 mature young as in the foregoing case, with serious or fatal 

 results. 



In the mare, injuries to the neck and withers are also liable to 

 occur from bites by the stallion during coitus. This is probably 

 most common among heavy draft stallions, some of which are 

 ver}' rough and cause more or less .serious lacerations or contu- 

 sions, at times leading to fistulous withers. There .seems to be 

 no means for breaking the stallion of the vice and the only ef- 

 fective method of control with which we are acquainted is the 

 application of a muzzle during coition. 



Injuries to the male becau.se of over- .size of the female also oc- 

 cur, especially in the bull. When young bulls of small size at- 

 tempt copulation with mature or large cows, they are liable, at 

 the moment of the violent copulatory thrust to take their feet 

 off the ground to such a degree that in coming down they 

 miss their footing, their hind feet glide forwards and they fall 

 heavily backwards, sometimes causing fracture of the spine or 

 other serious injury. It is to be avoided by guarding against too 

 great a di.sparity in size and by placing the small male in as 

 advantageous a position as po.ssible both as to .slope of ground 

 and security of footing, especially avoiding damp, slippery ground. 



In one case brought to our attention a similar accident oc- 

 curred to a cow, which being in heat, mounted one of her mates 

 slipped, fell and fractured her spine so that she had to be de- 

 stroyed. 



Injuries to the penis of the male during copulation are by no 

 rare. The penis of the stallion is most liable to injury from kicks 

 by the mare, the avoidance of which we have considered above 

 while discussing the subject in a general way. These contusions 

 of the penis during its great vascularity in the breeding season 

 are very difficult and refractory to handle. The stallion needs be 

 kept quiet, free from .sexual excitement, the penis retained at 



