44 THE VETERINARY SCIENCE. 



placenta or cleaning of the foal is attached. The muscular coat 

 is next to that of the mucous coat, and lies between the outer and 

 itiner coats of the womb. It is made up of muscular fibres, and 

 is strong and thick in the womb, much thicker than it is in the 

 bowels or othefr organs already mentioned. The use of this coat 

 is to support and protect the foetus or young while it is being 

 carried in the womb, and at the time of parturition, or what is 

 commonly known as foaling, this coat then comes into use, as it 

 contracts the womb very forcibly on the foal, while the neck of 

 womb lies open, helping to force the foal out of the womb. This 

 is important to note as the contraction of this coat is known as 

 labour pains. Lying outside, and covering around the womb, is 

 found a serous coat, which is a continuation of the serous coat of 

 the bowels. The womb is held to its place by strong ligaments 

 attached to the sides of it, and from there to the hip bones, 

 these are called broad ligaments. At the back part of the womb 

 is found the neck. It consists of an opening, formed by a 

 projection, which is about the size of an egg and has a hard, 

 gritty feeling when the animal is not in season and the neck is 

 closed. The neck of the womb is under control of the muscle 

 around it, and this muscle is under control of the nerves of the 

 womb. When the mare comes in season, this muscle is relaxed 

 to a certain extent, thus allowing the neck to open large enough 

 for the passage of a couple of fingers into it ; but upon working 

 around it with the fingers it can be forced large enough for a 

 man's hand to pass into it at this period. If the mare is put to the 

 horse at this time, and becomes pregnant or with foal, the .muscie 

 in the neck of the womb contracts, firmly closing it, which remains 

 closed until the time of foaling. When, at the time of foaling, 

 the labour pains com.e on, the muscle in the neck dilates, 

 allowing the neck of the womb to open large enough for the foal 

 to pass out The neck of the womb can be felt easily by oiling 

 the hand and passing it into the passage to the womb, and it 

 will be noticed that the neck spoken of projects into the passage. 

 Vagina and Vulva. — These two organs together make up tiie 

 passage which leads into the womb from the outside. In the 

 young mare they are separated by a thin curtain, or partitioi', made 

 up ot' mucous membrane. This curtain is found about four inches 

 from the outside, and is known as the hymen. This membrane is 

 destroyed, or should he, when the mare is ^;r^.*^ pui to the horse, 



