578 PAETURITION. 



Nature's method of bringing the foetus into the outer world, and 

 establishing in it an independent existence is well understood, but 

 what actually excites labour, what determines the hour, is not. 

 Within a limit of, say, three weeks, labour may be brought on by 

 manual interference, fear, excitement, a draught of cold water, and 

 the result be the same as jf nature had determined on an exact 

 period and suffered no interference from what we may call extra- 

 neous influences. During the whole period of pregnancy the final 

 result has been prepared for, and the uterus, which was once in 

 appearance little more than a collapsed tube, is at the time of 

 advanced pregnancy, a large body with powerful muscular structure 

 in its walls, prepared to .exert great expulsive eSorts, in which it 

 is aided by the abdominal muscles, and fixing of the diaphragm, 

 these efforts being recognised as labour pains, and for the most 

 part involuntary. Whether mares " try " as do women at the 

 solicitation of the monthly nurse is a question ; experience of 

 both leads one to think that they do ; though in prolonged labour 

 the pains will recur, the animal does not hold her breath and 

 strive as at first, and this may be accounted for by muscular 

 fatigue. 



The approach of labour is indicated by enlargement of the shape, 

 an apparent loosening of the bones of the pelvis on each side of 

 the tail, a hollowing under it, springing of the udder, the forma- 

 tion of waxy matter on the teats, which, projecting some distance 

 from them, may be taken as a more imminent sign than any of the 

 others named. 



In the usual way parturition is so quickly performed in mares 

 that many men have bred colts for years without ever witnessing 

 the act. Those who have seen it, have done so more often by 

 accident, as in the case of a mare foaling while at work. Mares 

 are commonly said to- foal in a standing position, a statement 

 based chiefly on the observation of oases where some difficulty 

 has protracted the labour. After sitting up for several nights to 

 afi'ord assistance, if necessary, the foal usually arrives while the 

 attendant has absented himself for a few moments, and the- mare 

 has got up again from the recumbent position in which she more 

 frequently performs the act, beginning, as in an ordinary case of 

 colic, by walking round the box, pawing the straw towards her, 

 and going down suddenly while the water-bag makes its appearance, 

 rapidly followed by the two fore legs, in a normal presentation 

 (Fig. 152). A short interval and two or three successive pains 

 follow, the head is born, the dam looks round with an expression 

 of curiosity and alarm, followed by maternal anxiety, partly rises, 

 nnd in doing so completes the delivery, her previous personal 

 anxiety being forgotten in concern for the foal. In rising or 



