153 



tic bacteria have beeu adiuitteLl to the interior of the womb. In the 

 latter case a fetid decomposition advances rapidly, and the mare usu- 

 ally perishes from poisoning with the putrid matters absorbed. 



At the natural period of parturition preparations are apparently made 

 for that act. The vulva swells and discharges much mucus, the udder 

 enlarges, the belly becomes more pendant, and the animal strains more 

 or less. No progress is made, however; there is not even opening of 

 the neck of the womb, and after a time the symptoms subside. The 

 mare usually refuses the male, yet there are exceptions to this rule. If 

 the neck of the womb has beeu opened and putrefying changes have 

 set in in its contents, the mare loses appetite and condition, pines, dis- 

 charges an offensive matter from the generative passages, and dies of 

 inflammation of the womb and putrid infection. In other cases there is 

 a slow wearing out of the strength and the mare finally dies of exhaus- 

 tion. 



The treatment is such as will facilitate the expulsion of the foetus and 

 its membranes, and the subsequent washing out of the womb with dis- 

 infectants. So long as the mouth of the womb is closed, time should be 

 allowed for its natural dilatation, but if this does not come about after a 

 day or two of straining the opening may be smeared with extract of bella- 

 donna, and the oiled hand, with the fingers and thumb drawn into the 

 form of a cone, may be inserted by slow oscillating movements into the 

 interior of the womb. The water bags may now be ruptured, any mal- 

 piesentation rectified (see "Difficult Parturition"), and delivery effected. 

 After removal of the membranes wash out the womb first with tepid 

 water, and then with a solution of 2 ounces of borax in half a gallon of 

 water. 



This injection may have to be repeated if a discharge sets in. The 

 same course may be pursued even after prolonged retention. If the 

 soft parts of the foetus have been absorbed and the bones only left these 

 must be carefully sought for and removed, and subsequent daily injec- 

 tions will be required for some time. In such cases, too, a course of iron 

 tonics (sulphate of iron, 2 drams daily), will be highly beneficial in re- 

 storing health and vigor. 



ABORTION. 



Abortion is, strictly speaking, the expulsion of the impregnated ovum 

 at any period from the date of impregnation until the foal can survive 

 out of the womb. If the foal is advanced enough to live it is premature 

 parturition, and in the mare this may occur as early as the tenth month 

 (three hundredth day). 



The mare may abort by reason of almost any cause that very pro- 

 foundly disturbs the system. Hence very violent inflammations of im- 

 portant internal organs (bowels, kidneys, bladder, lungs,) may induce 

 abortion. Profuse diarrhea, whether occurring from the reckless use 

 of purgatives, the consumption of irritants in the food, or a simple in- 

 digestion is an effective cause. No less so is acute indigestion with 



