STUD BOOK. 65 



be allowed one or two feeds of grain in the day. This 

 is about the period when they are accustomed to slink 

 their foals, or when abortion occurs ; the eye of the 

 owner should, therefore, be frequently upon them. 

 Good feeding and moderate exercise will be the best 

 preventives of this mishap. The mare that has once 

 aborted is liable to a repetition of the accident, and, 

 therefore, should never be suffered to be with other 

 mares between the fourth and fifth months ; for such 

 is the power of imagination or of sympathy in the 

 mare, that if one suffers abortion, others in the same 

 pasture will too often share the same fate. Farmers 

 wash, and paint, and tar their stables, to prevent some 

 supposed infection: the infection lies in the imagi- 

 nation. 



When the period of parturition is drawing near, she 

 should be watched and shut up during the night in a 

 safe yard, or loose box. 



If the mare, whether of the pure or common breed, 

 be thus taken care of, and be in good health while in 

 foal, little danger will attend the act of parturition. If 



E 



