163 



The ireafment consists in llic septirntioii of tlie mare from all oilier 

 animals in a quiet, dark, secluded place, and the free use of anti- 

 spasmodics and anodynes. Opium in dram doses every two hours, or 

 laudanum in ounce doses at similar intervals, "will often suffice. When 

 the more urgent symptoms have subsided these doses may be repeated 

 thrice a day till all excitement passes off or until the passages have 

 become relaxed and prepared for parturition. Viburnum prunifolium, 

 in ounce doses, may be added if necessary. Should parturition become 

 inevitable, it may be favored and any necessary assistance furnished. 



DIFFICULT PARTUEITIOX FROM XARROW PELVIS. 



A disprojjortion between the foetus got by a large stallion and tlie 

 jjelvis of a small dam is a serious obstacle to parturition, sometimes 

 seen in the mare. This is not the rule, however, as the foal up to 

 birth usually accommodates itself to the size of the dam, as illusti'ated 

 in the successful crossing of Percheron stallions on mustang mares. 

 If the disproportion is too great the only resort is < n^hryoiouiy. 



FRACTURED HIP-BOXES. 



More commonly the obstruction comes from distortion and narrow- 

 ing of the pelvis as the result of fractures. (Plates XIV, Fig. 2.) 

 Fractures at any point of the lateral wall or floor of the pelvis are 

 repaired v.ith the formation of an extensive bony deposit bulging into 

 the passage of the i)elvis. The displacement of the ends of the broken 

 bone is another cause of constriction and between the two conditions 

 the passage of the foetus may be rendered impossible without embry- 

 otomy. Fracture of the sacrum (the continuation of the back-bone 

 forming the croup) leads to the depression of the x)osterior part of that 

 bone in the roof of the pelvis and the narrowing of the pas.sage from 

 above downward liy a bony ridge presenting its sharj) edge forward. 



In all cases in which there has l>een injury to the bones of the j)elvis 

 the obvious iirecaution is to withliold the marc from breeding and to 

 use her for work only. 



If a mare with a pelvis thus narrovred has got in foal inach'ertently, 

 abortion may be induced in the early months of gestation by slowly 

 introducing the oiled finger through the neck of the v>'omb and follow- 

 ing this by the other fingers until the whole hand has been introduced. 

 Then the water-bags may be broken, and with the escape of the liquid 

 the womb will contract on the solid foetus and labor pains will ensue. 

 The fcetus being small it will pass easily. 



TUMORS IX THE VAGIXA AXD PELVIS. 



Tumors of various kinds may form in the vagina or elsewhere 

 within the pelvis, and when large enough will obstruct or prevent the 

 passage of the ftetus. Gray mares, which are so subject to black pig- 

 ment tumors {melanosis) on the tail, anus, and vulva, are the juost 



