PAETURITIQN. 587 



the returned uterus, but the presence of any foreign body, though 

 no bigger than a human pessary, excites contraction of the uterus, 

 and the work is undone by the mare straining. Morphia or other 

 sedative should be given by tihe mouth and not per vaginam to 

 prevent straining. 



After a prolonged or difficult labour there is danger of inflam- 

 mation of the womb (metritis), and a dose of opium (in oil, to 

 prevent constipation) should be given. 



The first meal is commonly a mash with half an ounce or so of 

 nitre, as it is thought to help the mare to cleanse or get rid of 

 the placenta. Remembering that at first the dam is generally 

 burdened with milk, and the foal has not yet learned to draw it 

 properly, it is not advisable to give milk-forming diet as msishes, 

 deferring them till the mare is past the dangers of the parturition 

 period, when the foal is able to make use of all she can give him. 



Eversion of the bladder, rupture of the uterus, and blood- 

 poisoning are all among the possibilities in connection with 

 parturition, and the insurance companies rightly cover the period 

 of twenty-eight days in their policies. 



In a case of abortion, a solution of bichloride of mercury, 1 in 

 1,000, should be used as a vulva injection, the foetus should be at 

 once buried in lime, and the place disinfected with chloride of 

 lime, sulphate of copper, or carbolic acid. 



After difficult parturition the mare should be freely bled at once, 

 and a full dose of aloes, with calomel and opium, administered ; 

 this is advised as a preventive against laminitis and other un- 

 toward results. 



As illustrating the danger of violent methods in the treatment 

 of pregnant mares, the following interesting case has been recently 

 brought to my notice. Mr. Raymond W. Cooper, of Karachi, 

 India, had a pony mare, which was shod for the first time on the 

 1st of December. The operation was performed with such difficulty 

 that it was found necessary to blindfold the animal in order to 

 secure her fore-feet. As she lashed out freely when her hind ones 

 were approached, an ordinary twitch was applied, and after con- 

 siderable difficulty she was shod. In the following February she 

 was discovered to be in foal and produced, in April, a deformed 

 foal, of which the photos here given were taken before it was 

 destroyed. It was totally blind (Fig. 155) and its upper lip (Fig. 

 156) was entirely absent. 



