ABORTION AND PREMATURE BIRTH. 25 1 



affected at one cind the same time, and that without any recognized 

 cause; this latter condition, however, is rarely experienced among 

 studs of mares without the cause being capable of recognition, 

 such as some particular description of food, as ergotism among 

 rye grass, a species of rust in straw and a filthy water supply. 

 Anything which is calculated to effect a sudden surprise such as 

 a thunderstorm, may produce abortion, while contagion from 

 decomposing cleansings or the discharges from mares that have 

 already aborted is considered capable of bringing on miscarriage. 

 Probably the most potent cause in the production of abortion is a 

 diseased condition of the uterus and the vagina, or it may be 

 traced occasionally to debility in the stallion in consequence of the 

 horse's strength being enfeebled by being called on to serve too 

 many mares during a season. With regard to the symptoms of 

 abortion we cannot do better than to quote from Fleming's Vctcr- 

 inary Obstetrics, as therein they are clearly set forth, and though 

 expressed in somewhat scientific terms they will probably assist 

 the breeder to discover when a mare is likely to be visited wath 

 this mishap; it states as follows: 



" Generally abortion takes place without any premonitory indi- 

 cations, and the animal may be as well and lively as usual up to 

 the moment when the foetus is expelled; and the expulsion itself 

 is so sudden, so prompt and accomplished with so little visible 

 effort or disturbance that the accident in most cases receives very 

 little if any notice. It often occurs during the night and wonder 

 is often expressed at finding in the morning the aborted fcetus, 

 generally contained in its intact envelopes, lying behind an animal 

 which, on the previous evening, looked perfectly well, and even 

 now is so cheerful and unaltered and its functions so unimpaired, 

 that it can scarcely be believed that it has been the subject of such 

 a mishap. Even the sentiment of maternity, which is so strongly 

 developed in animals, as Saint Cry justly remarks, is not awakened 

 in favor of the expelled foetus, and the mother shows the utmost 

 indifference to it as if it were in no way related to her. When 

 this simple abortion has taken place during the day, it has been 

 noted that the flanks fall in a little, the abdomen descends, the 

 vulva and vagina slightly dilate and there escapes from them a 

 glutinous, sometimes sanguinolent fluid, with which the foetus is 

 passed, sometimes without effort. We have said that the ovum or 



