MANAGEMENT OF THE MARE 
175 
believed that the mare should rather be left alone if best results are ex¬ 
pected, provided that other conditions are normal; otherwise the watch¬ 
man may lend his aid whenever necessary. At the Minnesota University 
no help is instituted unless the mare is exhibiting abnormal delivery, 
while at the Lefebure Sons’ Co. it is indicated that foaling mares should 
get the aid of caretakers if strained, which is, however, of seldom occur¬ 
rence, and Peterson claims that help should also be extended when the 
mare gets cast in the stall, or if in any way she needs any. Henderson ad¬ 
vises to keep the mare warm and quiet while foaling. According to Serven, 
it is the practice at the J. H. Serven and Son to help the mare deliver the 
foal, while Holbert says: “Be with her and help deliver colt if necessary 
and break sack over head, cut and disinfect navel when pulse stops.” 
Fifteen farms answer negatively to the question, “If any drugs are ad¬ 
ministered before foaling, give the names,” and only the University of 
Illinois reports that sometimes Epsom or Glauber’s salt is given to mares 
before foaling. 
Nine farms—the Waddington Farm, Thos. Kiddoo Farm, Woodside 
Farm, Arngibbon Farm, Selma Farm, Maple Larwn Farm, Oakdale Farm, 
Lefebure Sons’ Co., and Oaklawn Farm report that abortion does not occur 
in their herds. While a number of farms give varying percentages of 
abortion as well as various causes of the malady. These farms are indi¬ 
cated in the following: 
FARMS 
PERCENTAGE OF ABORTION AND CAUSES 
Cornell University 
Chestnut Farms 
Very few. 
In 1917 it is claimed that after re¬ 
turning from the International 
there were 9 cases of abortion in 6 
days. The cause was pink eye, dis¬ 
temper or the so-called stock yards 
fever. Since then, however, no 
more were lost, inasmuch as no 
pregnant mares were afterwards 
shipped out to Chicago. Influenza 
vaccine is claimed to cause abor¬ 
tion. 
Gossard Breeding Estates 
2%; caused by rough usage, careless 
teamsters, fighting mares in the 
herd and feeds that are unfit for 
pregnant mares, as has been re¬ 
ferred to already. 
Santa Anita Rancho 
Approximately 5%; caused by in¬ 
jury, badly cured feed or infection. 
University of Wisconsin 
University of Missouri 
White Oak Stock Farm 
University of Illinois 
Longview Stock Farm 
Ritchie Stock Farm 
Hawthorn Farm 
Holbert Farms 
Some; cause unknown. 
5%; by bad handling. 
Caused by accidents. 
2 cases in 10 years; cause unknown. 
2%; caused by twin fecudation. 
1%; unknown cause. 
1 or 2 annually. 
From 3 to 10%; caused by accidents, 
or of unknown cause. 
Iowa State College 
One time 11 cases; due probably to 
feeding of cane. 
