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nor foetal membrane. If the neck of the womb closes the liquid may 

 accumulate a second time, oi: even a third, if no means are taken to 

 correct the tendency. The best resort is to remove any diseased product 

 that may be found attached to the walls of the womb, and to inject it 

 daily with a warm solution of carbolic acid 2 drams, chloride of zinc 

 oue-half dram, water, 1 quart. A course of bitter tonics, gentian 2 

 drams, sulphate of iron 2 drams, daily, should be given, and a nutri- 

 tious, easily digested and slightly laxative diet allowed. 



DEOPSY OF THE AMNIOS. 



This differs from simple dropsy of the womb in that the fluid collects 

 in the inner of the two water bags (that in which the foal floats) and 

 not in the otherwise void cavity of the womb. This affection can oc- 

 cur only in the pregnant animal, while dropsy of the womb occurs in 

 the unimpregnated. The blood of the pregnant mare contains an ex- 

 cess of water and a smaller proportion of albumen and red globules, and 

 when this is still further aggravated by poor feeding, and other unhy- 

 gienic conditions, there is developed the tendency to liquid transuda- 

 tion from the vessels and dropsy. As the watery condition of the blood 

 increases with advancing pregnancy, so dropsy of the amnios is a dis- 

 ease of the last four or five months of gestation. The abdomen is large 

 and pendulous, and the swelling fluctuates under pressure, though the 

 solid body of the fa3tus can still be felt to strike against the hand 

 pressed into the swelling. If the hand is introduced into the vagina 

 the womb is found to be tense and round, with the projecting rounded 

 neck effaced, while the hand in the rectum will detect the rounded 

 swollen mass of the womb so firm and tense that the body of the fostus 

 can not be felt within it. The mare moves weakly and unsteadily on its 

 limbs, having difficulty in supporting the great weight, and in bad 

 cases there may be loss of appetite, stocking (dropsy) of the hind limbs, 

 difficult breathing, and colicky pains. The tension may lea d to abortion , 

 or a slow, laborious parturition may occur at the usual time. 



Treatment consists in relieving the tension and accumulation by 

 puncturing the foetal membrane with a cannula and trochar introduced 

 through the neck of the womb and the withdrawal of the trochar so as 

 to leave the canula in situ. Or the membranes may be punctured with 

 the finger and the excess of liquid allowed to escape. This may bring 

 on abortion, or the wound may close and gestation continue to the full 

 terra. A course of tonics (gentian root 2 drams, sulphate of iron 2 

 drams, daily) will do much to fortify the system and counteract further 

 excessive efl'usion. 



DROPSY OF THE LIMBS, PERINEUM, AND ABDOMEN. 



The disposition to dropsy often shows itself in the hind and even in 

 in the fore limbs, around and beneath the vulva (perinneum) and be- 

 neath the abdomen and chest. The affected parts are swollen and pit 



