146 



tion of blood just before service, benefits, by rendering the blood-ves- 

 sels less full, by lessening secretion in tlie womb and elsewhere, and 

 thus counteracting the tendency to the ejection and loss of semen. If 

 these means are ineffectual a full dose of camphor (2 drams) or of sal- 

 acin may at times assist. Low condition and anremia demands just the 

 opposite kind of treatment — rich, nourishing, albuminoid food, bitter 

 tonics (geutian), sunshine, gentle exercise, liberal grooming, and sup- 

 porting treatment generally are here in order. Spasmodic closure of 

 the neck of the womb is common and is easily remedied in the mare by 

 dilatation with the fingers. 



The hand, smeared with belladonna ointment and with the fingers 

 drawn into the form of a cone, is introduced through the vagina until 

 the projecting, rounded neck of the womb is felt at its anterior end. 

 This is opened by the careful insertion of one finger at a time until the 

 fingers have been passed through the constricted neck into the open 

 cavity of the womb. The introduction is made with a gentle, rotary mo- 

 tion, and all precipitate violence is avoided, as abrasion, laceration, or 

 other cause of irritation is likely to interfere with the retention of the 

 semen and with impregnation. If the neck of the womb is rigid and 

 unyielding from the induration which follows inflammation — a rare con- 

 dition in the mare, though common in the cow — more force will be req- 

 uisite, and it may even be needful to incise the neck to the depth of 

 one-sixth of an inch in four or more opposite directions, i)rior to forc- 

 ible dilatation. The incision may be made with a probe-pointed knife, 

 and should be done by a professional man if possible. The subsequent 

 dilatation may be best effected by the slow expansion of sponge or sea- 

 weed 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 imperfo- 

 rate 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 OF PREGNANCY. 



As the mere fact of service by the stallion does not insure pregnancy, 

 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 i>recautions when she is not. 



The cessation and non-recurrence of the symptoms of heat (horsing) is 

 a most significant though not 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 feeding. The recur- 



