sult of some disease of the walls of the womb, but
has been frequently observed as the result of infection after sexual
congress, and has, therefore, been confounded with pregnancy. The
symptoms are those of pregnancy, but without any movements of the fetus
and without the detection of any solid body in the womb when examined
with the oiled hand in the rectum. At the end of four or eight months
there are signs of parturition or of frequent straining to pass urine,
and after a time the liquid is discharged clear and watery, or muddy,
thick, and fetid. The hand introduced into the womb can detect neither
fetus nor fetal membrane. If the neck of the womb closes, the liquid may
accumulate a second time, or even a third, if no means are taken to
disinfect it or to correct the tendency. The best resort is to remove
any diseased product that may be found attached to the walls of the womb
and to inject it daily with a warm solution of carbolic acid 2 drams,
chlorid of zinc one-half dram, water 1 quart. A course of bitter tonics
(gentian 2 drams, sulphate of iron 2 drams, daily) should be given, and
a nutritious, easily digested, and slightly laxative diet allowed.

DROPSY OF THE AMNION.

This differs from simple dropsy of the womb in that the fluid collects
in the inner of the two water bags (that in which the foal floats) and
not in the otherwise void cavity of the womb. This affection can occur
only in the pregnant animal, while dropsy of the womb occurs in the
unimpregnated. The blood of the pregnant mare contains an excess of
water and a smaller proportion of albumen and red globules, and when
this condition is still further aggravated by poor feeding and other
unhygienic conditions there is developed the tendency to liquid
transudation from the vessels and dropsy. As the watery condition of the
blood increases with advancing pregnancy, so dropsy of the amnion is a
disease of the last four or five months of gestation. The abdomen is
large and pendulous, and the swelling fluctuates under pressure, though
the solid body of the fetus can still be felt to strike against the hand
pressed into the swelling. If the hand is introduced into the vagina,
the womb is found to be tense and round, with the projecting rounded
neck effaced, while the hand in the rectum will detect the rounded,
swollen mass of the womb so firm and tense that the body of the fetus
can not be felt within it. The mare moves weakly and unsteadily on her
limb