DISEASES or THE GENEEATIVE ORGANS. 187 



quick. Difficulty and danger arise mainly from the act being brought 

 on prematurely before the passages are sufficiently dilated, from nar- 

 rowing of the pelvic bones or other mechanical obstruction in the 

 passages, from monstrous distortions or duplications in the fetus, 

 or from the turning back of one of the members so that the elongated 

 conical or wedge-shaped outline is done away with. Prompt as is the 

 normal parturition in the mare, however, difficult and delayed par- 

 turitions are surrounded by special dangers and require unusual 

 precautions and sldll. From the proclivity of the mare to unhealthy 

 inflammations of the peritoneum and other abdominal organs, pene- 

 trating wounds of the womb or vagina are liable to prove fatal. 

 The contractions of the womb and abdominal walls are so powerful 

 as to exhaust and benumb the arm of the assistant and to endanger 

 penetrating wounds of the genital organs. By reason of the looser 

 connection of the fetal membranes with the womb, as compared with 

 those of ruminants, the violent throes early detach these membranes 

 throughout their whole extent, and the foal, being thus separated 

 from the mother and thrown on its own resources, dies at an early 

 stage of any protracted parturitiwi. The foal rarely survives four 

 hours after the onset of parturient throes. From the great length 

 of the limbs and neck of the foal it is extremely difficult to secure 

 and bring up limb or head which has been turned back when it 

 should have been presented. When assistance must be rendered, 

 the operator should don a thick woolen undershirt with the sleeves 

 cut out at the shoulders. This protects the body and leaves the whole 

 arm free for manipulation. Before inserting the arm it should be 

 smeared with lard. This protects the skin against septic infection 

 and favors the introduction of the hand and arm. The hand should 

 be inserted with the thumb and fingers drawn together like a cone. 

 Whether standing or lying, the mare should' be turned with head 

 downhill and hind parts raised as much as possible. The contents 

 of the abdomen gravitating forward leave much' more room for 

 manipulation. Whatever part of the foal is presented (head, foot) 

 should be secured with a cord and running noose before it is pushed 

 back to search for the other missing parts. Even if a missing part 

 is reached, no attempt should be made to bring it up during a labor 

 pain. Pinching the back will sometimes check the pains and allow 

 the opera,tor to secure and bring up the missing member. In intract- 

 able cases a large dose of chloral hydrate (1 ounce in a quart of 

 water) or the inhalation of chloroform and air (equal proportions) 

 to insensibility may secure a respite, during which the missing 

 members may be replaced. If the waters have been discharged and 

 the mucus dried up, the genital passages and body of the fetus 

 should be lubricated with lard or oil before any attempt at extrac- 

 tion is made. When the missing member has been brought up into 



