THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 
73 
It IS made up of muscular fibres, and is strong and thick in 
the womb, much thicker than it is in the bowels or other 
organs already mentioned. This coat supports and protects 
the foetus or young while it is being carried in the womb, 
and at the time of parturition, or what is commonly known 
as foaling, this coat also comes into use. It contracts the 
• womb very forcibly on the foal, while the neck of womb lies 
open, thus helping to force the foal out of the womb. This 
is important as the' contraction of this coat produces what is 
known as labor pains. Lying outside, and covering around 
the womb, is a serous coat, a continuation of the serous coat 
of the bowels. The womb is held in place by strong liga- 
ments attached to the sides, and from there to the hip bones. 
These are called broad ligaments. At the back part of the 
womb is the neck. It consists of an opening, formed by a 
projection, about the size of an egg. This has a hard, gritty 
feeling when the animal is not in season. The neck at this 
time is closed. The neck of the womb is under control of 
the muscle around it, and this muscle is under control of the 
nerves of the womb. When the mare comes in season, this 
muscle is relaxed to a certain extent, thus allowing the neck 
to open wide enough for the passage of a couple of fingers. 
By working around it with the fingers at this period it can 
be forced wide enough to admit a man's hand. If the mare 
is put to the horse at this time, and becomes pregnant or with 
foal, the muscle in the neck of the womb contracts, firmly 
dosing it. It remains closed until the time of foaling. 
When, at the time of foaling, the labor pains come on, the 
muscle in the neck dilates, allowing the neck of the womb to 
open large enough for the foal to pass out. The neck of the 
womb can be felt easily by oiling the hand and passing it 
into the passage to the womb. It will be noticed, too, that 
the neck spoken of projects into the passage. 
12. The Vagina and the Vulva. — These two organs 
together make up the passage which leads into the womb 
from the outside. In the young mare they are separated 
by a thin curtain, or partition, made up of mucous mem- 
brane. This curtain is found about four inches from the 
outside, and is known as the hymen. It is destroyed, or 
should be, when the mare is first put to the horse, although 
it is broken down in other ways, and in some cases it will 
disappear of its own accord. The part of the passage in front 
