BREEDING FOR GENERAL PURPOSES 197 



mashes of corn and pollard. In cases of chill and great 

 weakness, the old well-known article, cordial ball, may be 

 given in warm ale. 



Should, however, the case be inflammatory from previous 

 high condition and fulness of blood, cordial ball and all 

 stimulants should be strictl}^ avoided, and the regimen con- 

 fined to warm water and gruel, in as copious quantities as 

 can be administered. Should further measures of similar 

 tendency be indicated, a mild solution of Glauber's or Epsom 

 salts (ten or twelve ounces in a pail of warm water) may be 

 given, which she may be induced to drink by means of 

 being kept short of water. A moderate quantity of blood 

 may be drawn, should the symptoms demand it ; not other- 

 wise. Daily walking exercise abroad, the mare being 

 clothed if necessary, should succeed, until she be sufficiently 

 recovered to be returned to her pasture. 



During the inability of the mare to give suck, the foal 

 must be sustained on cow's milk. This alien milk will 

 generally disorder and gripe the foal, for which the best 

 remedy is two or three spoonfuls of rhubarb in powder, 

 with an equal quantity of magnesia in warm gruel. This 

 medicine should be given to the foals of working mares, 

 which are often griped by sucking pent milk. The disorder 

 arising from wet and cold, a tablespoonful each of the best 

 brandy and syrup of white poppies may be given several 

 times. 



Mares having dead foals ought to lose a little blood, be 

 fed moderately on cooling mashes with a little nitre, and on 

 no account be allowed corn. Moderate walking exercise is 

 very desirable for mares before foaling ; and alternate 

 mashes of plain and of scalded bran are much to be 

 recommended. 



It should be observed that geldings should not be 

 admitted among the brood mares, as by leaping thehi, or 

 harassing them about, abortion may be occasioned. 



In five or six months, according to the growth of the foal, 

 it may be weaned. It should then be housed for three 

 weeks or a month. A rick-yard in good weather is a capital 

 place for the foal, as affording, without trouble, both food 

 and shelter. One or two urine balls, or a physic ball, will 

 be useful if the milk should be troublesome, or the mother 

 should pine after her foal. 



There is no principle of greater importance than the 



