154 DISEASES OF THE HOKSE. 



sional man if possible. The subsequent dilatation may be best effected 

 by the slow expansion of sponge or seaweed tents inserted into the 

 narrow canal. In such cases it is best to let the wounds of the neck 

 heal before putting to horse. An imperforate hymen may be freely 

 incised in a crucial manner until the passage will admit the human 

 hand. An ordinary knife may be used for this purpose, and after 

 the operation the stallion may be admitted at once or only after the 

 wounds have healed. 



INDICATIONS or PREGNANCY. 



As the mere fact of service by the stallion does not insure preg- 

 nancy, it is important that the result should be determined, to save 

 the mare from unnecessary and dangerous work or medication when 

 actually in foal and to obviate wasteful and needless precautions when 

 she is not. 



The cessation and nonrecurrence of the symptoms of heat (horsing) 

 are most significant though not an infallible sign of conception. If 

 the sexual excitement speedily subsides and the mare persistently 

 refuses the stallion for a month, she is probably pregnant. In very 

 exceptional cases a mare will accept a second or third service after 

 weeks or months, though pregnant, and some mares will refuse the 

 horse persistently, though conception has not taken place, and this in 

 spite of warm weather, good condition of the mare, and liberal feed- 

 ing. The recurrence of heat in the pregnant mare is most likely to 

 take place in hot weather. If heat merely persists an undue length of 

 time after service, or if it reappears shortly after, in warm weather 

 and in a comparatively idle mare, on good feeding, it is less signifi- 

 cant, while the persistent absence of heat under such conditions may 

 be usually accepted as proof of conception. 



An unwonted gentleness and docility on the part of a previousl}^ 

 irritable or vicious mare, and supervening on service, is an excellent 

 indication of pregnancy, the generative instinct which caused the 

 excitement having been satisfied. 



An increase of fat, with softness and flabbiness of muscle, a loss of 

 energy, indisposition for active work, a manifestation of laziness, 

 indeed, and of fatigue- early and easily induced, when preceded by 

 service, will usually imply conception. 



Enlargement of the abdomen, especially in its lower third, with 

 slight falling in beneath the loins and hollowness of the back are sig- 

 nificant symptoms, though they may be entirely absent. Swelling and 

 firmness of the udder, with the smoothing out of its wrinkles, is a 

 suggestive sign, even though it appears only at intervals during ges- 

 tation. 



A steady increase in weight (1^ pounds daily) about the fourth or 

 fifth month is a useful indication of pregnancy. So is a swollen and 

 red or bluish-red appearance of the vaginal mucous membrane. 



