DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 181 
Compound tincture of iodin, 2 ounces; tannic acid, one-half dram; 
water, 10 ounces. It does not last more than, a day or two after 
parturition. 
CRAMPS OF THE HIND LIMBS. 
The pressure of the distended womb on the nerves and blood vessels 
of the pelvis, besides conducing to dropsy, occasionally causes cramps 
of the hind limbs. The limb is raised without flexing the joints, the 
front of the hoof being directed toward the ground, or, the spasms 
occurring intermittently, the foot is kicked violently against the. 
ground several times in rapid succession. The muscles are felt to be 
fra and rigid. The cramp may be promptly relieved by active rtib- 
bing or by walking the animal about, and it does not reappear after 
parturition. 
ret CONSTIPATION. 
This may result from compression by gravid womb, and is best 
corrected by a graduated allowance of boiled flaxseed. 
PARALYSIS. 
The pressure on the nerves of the pelvis is liable to cause paralysis 
of the hind limbs or of the nerve of sight. These are obstinate until 
after parturition, when they recover spontaneously, or under a 
course of nux vomica and (local) stimulating liniments. 
PROLONGED RETENTION OF THE FETUS (FOAL). 
Though far less frequently than in the case of the cow, parturition 
may not be completed at term, and the mare, to her serious and even 
fatal injury, may carry the foal in the womb for a number of months. 
Hamon records one case in which the mare died after carrying the 
fetus for 17 months, and Caillier a similar result after it had been 
carried 22.months. In these cases the fetus retained its natural form, 
but in one reported by Gohier the bones only were left in the womb 
amid a mass of apparently purulent matter. 
Cause—The cause may be any effective obstruction to the act of 
parturition, such as lack of contractile power in the womb, unduly 
strong (inflammatory) adhesions between the womb and the fetal 
membranes, wrong presentation of the fetus, contracted pelvis (from 
fracture or disease of the bones), or disease and induration of the 
neck of the womb. 
The mere prolongation of gestation does not necessarily entail the 
death of the foal; hence the latter has been born alive at the four 
hundredth day. Even when the foal has perished putrefaction does 
not set in unless the membranes (water bags) have been ruptured and 
septic bacteria have been admitted to the interior of the womb. In 
the latter case a fetid decomposition advances rapidly, and the mare 
usually perishes from poisoning with the putrid matters absorbed. 
