540 
NEWS AND ITEMS. 
coil, a tliree-cell battery, a flexible cord led from it to the horse’s 
back under the surcingle. The stall was lined with tin where 
the horse had been chewing. The connection was made so that 
when he touched his lips to the tin at any point the electric cur¬ 
rent ran through his head and along his spine to the surcingle. 
This would cause him to turn away with disgust, and after vain 
efforts to pursue his former pastime, nothing could induce him 
to again attempt it, and the result is that he is now eating and 
digesting his food naturally. 
Spaying Mares. —The Montana Experiment Station has 
begun experiments in spaying mares, of which it says : Hereto¬ 
fore this operation has been performed chiefly in isolated cases 
of disease or vice. It is now proposed with our over-production 
as an economic measure to limit the production and control in a 
measure the quality of our horses and render more valuable for 
work purposes those operated upon. It is believed that spayed 
mares will prove more tractable and kind than open mares dur¬ 
ing their periods of u heat ” ; that they will escape the loss of 
flesh and condition which open mares undergo at this period; 
that they will prove neater and cleaner in the stable than geld¬ 
ings and be free from the annoying accumulations of dirt in the 
sheath of the latter, and that in every sense they will be equal, 
if not superior, to geldings in form, symmetry, courage, endur¬ 
ance and all essentials that go to make up a serviceable horse. 
In addition to these expected advantages it is evident that mares 
not intended for breeding purposes are free from the annoying 
danger of accidental impregnation by mongrel stallions which 
infest so many of our ranges. A number have already been 
spayed with apparently no greater danger than castrating colts, 
and it is desired to continue the experiment on a number of 
good mares in lots of twenty to thirty each free of charge to 
such owners as will take sufficient interest in the matter to after¬ 
wards handle the animals and report the results. 
PRACTICE FOR SALE.—LAST NOTICE. 
A well-established Veterinary Practice, in a city of 80,000, in a splendid agricultural 
district. Only one competitor. Good reasons for selling. Address, “Practitioner,” 
No. 1302 Felix Street, St. Joseph, Mo. 
BACK NUnBERS WANTED. 
For Dr. W. L. Williams’ File: Volume xviii., No. 6, (September). 
For Dr. S. Stewart’s File : Volume xtx., No. 9, (December, 1895). 
Any subscriber having duplicates of either or both of above numbers will receive 25 
cents each and thanks by sending to office of The Review, 141 West 54th Street, New 
York. 
