THE BBEEDING OF HOUSES 113 



One should keep close watch on the mare's udder and the 

 condition of the C9lt's bowels. If the colt is not taking all the 

 milk, the udder will be greatly distended, become sore, and 

 possibly cake, when there will be difficulty with both mare and 

 foal. It is then necessary to milk the mare. If the bowels of 

 the colt are loose and he is scouring, it may be due to the fact 

 that he is getting too much milk. In that case, the mare 

 should be partly milked by hand. 



THE FOAL 



It is essential that the new-born foal get the first milk from 

 the dam. This fore-milk looks thick and yellow and is a natural 

 purgative for the removal of the material that has accumulated 

 in the foal's digestive tract during the last few days of its de- 

 velopment. Its prompt removal is essential to the life of the 

 colt. Sometimes this fore-milk, or colostrum, is drawn off as 

 unfit for the colt, but such practice is a common cause of death 

 to the foal two or three days after birth. 



The young foal that makes its appearance normally and is 

 bright and active needs only to be let alone as long as both mare 

 and foal are doing well. The infant foal will be better for it. 

 By giving proper attention to the food and exercise of the mare, 

 the foal may be kept thriving and in the pink of condition with- 

 out any special care or attention. Not all foals, however, are 

 so fortunate. Occasionally one loses its life through want of 

 attention at the time of birth. Occasionally foals are troubled 

 with digestive disorders that must be attended to and remedied 

 at once before they prove fatal. Again, they are sometimes 

 troubled with an infectious navel disease which may be due to 

 unsanitary conditions at the time of foaling. 



It sometimes happens that the new-born foal cannot breathe 

 — does not establish the function of respiration. In this case, 

 steps must be taken quickly to estabhsh respiration by blowing 

 violently up the muzzle and into the mouth, and by briskly 



