VI 
MANAGEMENT OF THE FOAL 
1. Handling 
As directed by Williams, 48 “The first object . . . of a caretaker of 
new-born animals is to see that they begin breathing promptly, that any 
impediments to respiration are removed quickly, and that any other 
means necessary for the prompt establishment of respiration are employed. 
“It should immediately be seen that the nostrils of the fetus are free, so 
that air may readily enter the lungs; if portions of the fetal membranes 
cover the nose, they should be removed; if mucus has collected in the 
nostrils, it should be taken away promptly ... In many cases per¬ 
haps, this mucus (clot of firm mucus which may be found lodged in the 
larynx) could be dislodged by manipulating the tongue—by alternately 
drawing it forward and allowing it to retract. 
“It has been claimed that in some cases the fetus has been strangled 
during birth owing to the inhalation of fluids because of interruption 
of the umbilic circulation. This is rarely if ever, true, but if suspected 
it may be advisable to drain out some of the fluid by suspending the 
young animal for a few moments by the hind legs or by placing it in a 
position with its head lowered. This is a good practice ... as the 
lowering of the head stimulates the respiratory center in the brain. If, 
however, the fetal circulation is good, any fetal fluids which may have 
been inhaled are promptly absorbed and cease to have danger for the 
young animal. 
“In tardy birth, suspended animation may occur because of a too long 
delayed respiration ... It seems to make little difference whether a 
fetus be born where the temperature is at 0° or 90° to 100° F. It seems, 
however, that the dashing of cold water upon the fetus or vigorous strok¬ 
ing of the chest will arouse the act of respiration in some cases. General¬ 
ly, the induction of respiration should be attributed to the reflex influence 
of the venous blood upon the central nervous system. This reflex is best 
aroused by suspending the new-born by its hind legs as mentioned in 
the preceding paragraph. 
“Artificial respiration may also be induced by the usual compression 
and relaxation of the chest walls, or by inflating the lungs by forcing 
air through the nostrils with a small bellows, should such an apparatus 
be at hand. So long as the heart continues to beat, there is possibility of 
inducing respiration, and efforts should consequently be continued, so 
long as the cardiac action persists. As a general rule, respiration can 
not be established at all unless it succeeds very promptly so that in 
those cases where the animal does not breathe within two or three 
minutes it will probably die in spite of the fact that the heart may con¬ 
tinue to act for ten or fifteen minutes. 
“The umbilic cord must be divided and the previous relation between 
the mother and young severed. This result in a wound which involves 
the arteries, veins, and urachus, each of which communicates with in¬ 
ternal parts of the system of the young animal. Naturally, the umbilic 
cord becomes ruptured in a variety of ways. In the foal the cord is so 
long that it is usually not ruptured when the fetus is expelled, if the 
mare is recumbent, but gives way only when she rises to her feet, and 
even then in some cases not until she turns her head toward the fetus 
in order to care for it, and in so doing pulls the cord in two near the 
umbilicus. In other cases . . . the chorion becomes detached from 
