ON ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION. 243 



It is, of course, in all breeding establish- 

 ments maintained for profit, a matter of 

 tlie utmost importance that every mare 

 shall, if possible, produce a foal every year, 

 the loss being considerable with an animal 

 so long in gestation if she fails to do so. 

 If only half the inmates of the haras 

 breed each year, it is obvious that every 

 foal reared must repay the keep of two. 

 The attention of breeders was, therefore, 

 directed, through these ascertained facts, 

 to the theory of artificial insemination — 

 i.e., the introduction of semen into the 

 uterus by other means than that of natural 

 copulation. 



Some opposition has, as might be expected, 

 been made to this practice of artificial insemi- 

 nation. Two or three of the objections 

 advanced against it we may briefly consider, 

 before pointing out the advantages claimed 

 for it by its supporters. It has been alleged 

 that it is an interference with the course 



