147 



rence of heat in tlie iiregnant mare is most likely to take place in hot 

 weather. If heat merely persists an undue length of time after service, 

 or if it re-appears shortly after, in warm weather and in a compara- 

 tively idle mare, on good feeding, it is less significant, while the per- 

 sistent absence of heat under such conditions may be usually accepted 

 as iiroof of conception. 



An unwonted gentleness and docility on the part of a previously irrita- 

 ble or vicious mare, and supervening on service, is an excellent indica- 

 tion of pregnancy, the generative instinct which caused the excitement 

 having been satisfied. 



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

 energy, indisposition for active w^ork, a manifestation of laziness, in- 

 deed, and of fatigue early and easily induced, when preceded by service, 

 will usually imi^ly conception. 



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

 falling in beneath the loins and hollowness of the back are significant 

 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 gestation. 



A steady increase in weight (H pounds daily) about tbe 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. 



From the seventh or eighth mouth onward the foal may be felt by the 

 hand (palm or knuckles) pressed into the abdomen in front of the left 

 stifle. The sudden push displaces the foal toward the opposite side of 

 the womb, and as it floats back its hard body is felt to strike against 

 the hand. If the pressure is maintained the movements of the live foal 

 are felt, and especially in the morning and after a drink of cold water, 

 or during feeding. A drink of cold water will often stimulate the fa?tu8 

 to movements that may be seen by the eye, but an excess of iced water 

 may prove injurious, even to the causing of abortion. Cold water 

 dashed on the belly has a similar effect on the foetus and equally en- 

 dangers abortion. 



Examination of the uterus with the oiled hand introduced into the 

 rectum is still more satisfactory, and if cautiously conducted no more 

 dangerous. The rectum must be first emptied and then the hand car- 

 ried forward until it reaches the front edge of tbe pelvic bones below, 

 and pressed downward to ascertain the size and outline of the womb. 

 In the unimpregnated state the vagina and womb can be felt as a sin- 

 gle rounded tube, dividing in front to two smaller tubes (the horns of 

 the womb). In the pregnant mare not only the body of the womb is 

 enlarged, but still more so one of the horns (right or left), and on com- 

 pression the latter is found to contain a hard, nodular body, floating in 

 a liquid, which in the latter half of gestation may be stimulated by gen- 

 tle pressure to manifest spontaneous movements. By this method the 

 presence oi the foetus may be determined as early as the third month. 



