VETERINARY OBSTETRICS. 
139 
moved from the corn-bin of the carter who had the charge 
of the animals, when a large quantity of fresh savin w as found, 
some of w hich he admitted having given to the horses, and 
thus caused their attack. The exhibition of active aperients 
proved successful in saving the lives of the other three 
horses. The reason assigned by the man was that he had 
used the savin in order to improve the appearance of their 
coats.] 
VETERINARY OBSTETRICS. 
A MARE DESTROYED FROM DIFFICULT FOALING. 
Bv Alexander Lawson, M.R.C.V.S., Bolton. 
Gentlemen, —In the November number of the Veteri¬ 
narian an article appeared under this head, the author of 
which, after detailing the case and inviting your comments 
and remarks thereon, asks certain questions relating to 
obstetrics in the lower animals. 1 have looked, but in vain, 
w ith much interest through the succeeding numbers of your 
Journal for some comments, either from yourselves or 
experienced practitioners resident in breeding districts. 
Being deeply impressed with the importance of the subject, 
and believing that “ obstetrics ” is the branch of veterinary 
science upon which the profession generally, from peculiar 
circumstances, and not from any fault, is, to use a common 
expression, “ worst up,” I venture to offer a few 7 remarks 
upon it, but more in anticipation of eliciting information from 
others than with a hope that any new light w 7 ill thereby be 
thrown on it. I have just said that I consider this “the 
branch of veterinary science on which the profession gene¬ 
rally lack practical knowlege,” the reasons for which appear 
to me to be— 
1st. That to enable the practitioner to undertake cases of 
“ foaling” or “ calving” in a proper manner, he must have 
had actual practice therein, for no amount of reading or oral 
teaching will make him expert, although these means are 
most certainly not to be slighted. 
2d. That, uidike the practitioner in human medicine, who 
is called in to every birth, we are only sent for in very 
extreme cases of protracted labour, arising chiefly from either 
malpresentation of the foetus or malformation of the pelvis 
of the mother. 
