182 
THE VETERINARY SCIENCE 
Mix in a pint of lukewarm water, and with a sponge rub 
the inside of the womb with this lotion every second day till 
the discharge stops. Give the following powders: 
Mix and give a teaspoonful twice a day in the feed; feed 
on rich food and give regular exercise, and, as a general 
thing, she will soon be all right. It is very dangerous to put 
the mare to a horse while in this condition as there is a pos- 
sibility of the horse catching it. Should she be served, how- 
ever, and should the horse become afifected, it constitutes 
what is known as clap or gonorrhoea. See Chap. VII., Sect. 7. 
3. Barrenness. 
This is a condition in which it is impossible to get the 
mare with foal. 
Causes. — It is the natural consequences of some defect in 
the reproductive organs such as diseased ovaries or contrac- 
tion or closure of the neck of the womb. It may be the re- 
sult of misplacement of the womb so that the neck becomes 
twisted to one side. 
Symptoms. — The main symptom of course is the failure 
to get the mare with foal. 
Treatment. — Pass the oiled hand into the passage and 
examine the neck of the womb. If it is found that the open- 
ing is closed or contracted it may be gradually opened with 
the fingers. Should this be difficult saturate a sponge with 
extract of belladonna, press it against the neck of the womb 
so as to bathe it with the medicine. In one hour after this 
the opening may be easily made because of the relaxing ef- 
fect of the medicine upon the muscles. Allow service of the 
horse after this and it is usually successful. 
Should the neck of the womb be twisted to one side, 
straighten as nearly as possible and allow service at once. 
Should barrenness be the result of diseased ovaries noth 
ing can be done. 
Sometimes a change of horses is effective. A mare that 
will not breed to one horse will sometimes be fruitful to 
another. Mares will breed as young as two and ns old as 
twenty ; some even older than this. 
Sulphate of Copper 
Sulphate of Iron . . 
54 pound, 
pound. 
