149 



and it should not slope too mucU from the front backward, as this 

 throws the weight of the uterus back on the pelvis and endangers pro- 

 trusions and even abortion. Violent mental impressions are to be 

 avoided, for though the majority of mares are not afi'ected thereby, yet a 

 certain number are so jirofoundly impressed that peculiarities and dis- 

 tortions are entailed on the offspring. Hence, there is wisdom shown in 

 ba-nishing iiarti-colored or objectionably tinted animals, and those that 

 show deformities or faulty conformation. Hence, too, the importance 

 of preventing prolonged acute suffering by the pregnant mare, as cer- 

 tain troubles of the eyes, feet, and joints in the foals have been clearly 

 traced to the concentration of the mother's mind on corresponding 

 injured organs in herself. Sire and dam alike tend to reproduce their 

 l^ersoual defects which predispose to disease, but the dam is far more 

 likely to perpetuate the evil in her progeny which was carried while 

 she was personally enduring severe suff'ering caused by such defects. 

 Hence, an active bone spavin or ring-bone, causing lameness, is more ob- 

 jectionable than that in which the inflammation and lameness have both 

 passed, and an active ophthalmia is more to be feared than even an old 

 cataract. For this reason all active diseases in the breeding mare 

 should be soothed and abated at as early a moment as possible. 



EXTKA-UTERINE GESTATIOI^. 



It is rare in the domestic animals to find the fcetus developed else- 

 where than in the womb. The exceptional forms are those in which 

 the sperm of the male, making its way turough the womb and Fallopian 

 tubes, impregnates the ovum prior to its escape, and in which the now 

 vitalized and growing ovum, by reason of its gradually increasing size, 

 becomes imprisoned and fails to escape into the womb. The arrest of 

 the ovum may be in the substance of the ovary itself (ovarian preg- 

 nancy), in the Fallopian tube (tubal pregnancy), or when by its contin- 

 uous enlargement it has ruptured its envelopes so that it escapes into 

 the cavity of the abdomen, it may become attached to any part of the 

 serous membrane and draw its nourishment directly from that (abdom- 

 inal pregnancy). In all such cases there is an increase and enlarge- 

 ment of the capillary blood-vessels at the point to which the embryo 

 has attached itself so as to furnish the needful nutriment for the grow- 

 ing offspring. 



All appreciable symptoms are absent, unless from the death of 

 the fcetus, or its interference with normal functior^s, general disorder 

 and indications of parturition supervene. If these occur later than the 

 natural time for parturition they are the more significant. There may 

 be general malaise, loss of appetite, elevated temperature, accelerated 

 pulse, with or without distinct labor pains. Examination with the 

 oiled hand in the rectum will reveal t^^he womb of the natural uuim- 

 preguated size and shape and with both uorns of one size. Further 

 exploration may detect an elastic mass aparc from the womb and in the 



