s best to let the wounds of the neck heal before putting to horse. An
imperforate hymen may be freely incised in a crucial manner until the
passage will admit the human hand. An ordinary knife may be used for
this purpose, and after the operation the stallion may be admitted at
once or only after the wounds have healed.

PREGNANCY.

INDICATIONS OF PREGNANCY.

As the mere fact of service by the stallion does not insure pregnancy,
it is important that the result should be determined to save the mare
from unnecessary and dangerous work or medication when actually in foal
and to obviate wasteful and needless precautions when she is not.

The cessation and nonrecurrence of the symptoms of heat (horsing) are
most significant, though not an infallible, sign of conception. If the
sexual excitement speedily subsides and the mare persistently refuses
the stallion for a month, she is probably pregnant. In very exceptional
cases a mare, though pregnant, will accept a second or third service
after weeks or months, and some mares will refuse the horse
persistently, though conception has not taken place, and this in spite
of warm weather, good condition of the mare, and liberal feeding. The
recurrence of heat in the pregnant mare is most liable to take place in
hot weather. If heat merely persists an undue length of time after
service, or if it reappears shortly after, in warm weather and in a
comparatively idle mare, on good feeding, it is less significant, while
the persistent absence of heat under such conditions may be usually
accepted as proof of conception.

An unwonted gentleness and docility on the part of a previously
irritable or vicious mare, and supervening on service, is an excellent
indication of pregnancy, the generative instinct which caused the
excitement having been satisfied.

An increase of fat, with softness and flabbiness of muscle, a loss of
energy, indisposition for active work, a manifestation of laziness,
indeed, and of fatigue early and easily induced, when preceded by
service, will usually imply conception.

Enlargement of the abdomen, especially in its lower third, with slight
falling in beneath the loins and hollowness of the back are significant
symptoms, though they may be entirely absent. Swelling and firmness of
the udder, with the smoothing out of its wrinkles, is a suggestive sign,
even though it appears only at intervals during gestation.

A steady increase in weight (1-1/2 pounds daily)