Diseases of Young Stock. 179 



complish, will overcome the trouble if due to cause (1); 

 spasm of the urethra, or proudness, as it is termed by 

 horsemen, a condition in which the penis remains erect 

 after mating, requires the use of cold water along the 

 course of the urethra and the veterinarian to prescribe, 

 in some cases a second service overcomes the condition, 

 which in the first instance prevented the proper discharge 

 of the semen. Cantharides (Spanish fly) must on no ac- 

 count be given by the stockman. 



Sterility or barrenness in females is due to a similar 

 number of causes, such as (1) fleshiness and lack of exer- 

 cise; (2) a closure or (6) a flabby condition of the os 

 (neck of the womb); (3) malformations; (4) prolonged 

 continence; (5) acid condition of the vagina, the result 

 of abortions, retained afterbirths, etc.; tuberculosis, in 

 and in breeding, hybrids are also responsible for inabil- 

 ity to produce offspring. Sterility, due to cause (1), may 

 be overcome by bleeding or the use of a purgative; a 

 treatment quite commonly followed by old country breed- 

 ers is that of bleeding mares a short time before mating; 

 if failure to conceive is due to causes (2) an examination 

 will need to be made, the animal is securely tied or other- 

 wise restrained, twitched or one fore foot lifted, the hands 

 and arms bared, oiled and belladonna applied to the 

 fingers, which are formed into a cone, then the endeavor 

 is gently and gradually made to dilate the neck of the 

 womb, which done, mating may take place hf mares; if 

 due to (6) the use of the gelatin capsule, a method in- 

 troduced by Mr. Jas. Johnstone, of the Breeders' Gazette, 

 Chicago, will be found very useful, in fact in mares hard 

 to o-et with foal the capsule method is worthy of a trial, 



