ecessary in
the mare than in the cow, in which the prevalent contagious abortion
must be counteracted by the persistent local use of antiseptics. After
abortion a careful hygiene is demanded, especially in the matter of pure
air and easily digestible feed. The mare should not be served again for
a month or longer, and in no case until after all discharge from the
vulva has ceased.

INFECTIOUS ABORTION IN MARES.

This disease is discussed in the chapter on "Infectious Diseases."

PARTURITION.

SYMPTOMS OF PARTURITION.

As the period of parturition approaches, the swelling of the udder
bespeaks the coming event, the engorgement in exceptional cases
extending forward on the lower surface of the abdomen and even into the
hind limbs. For about a week a serous fluid oozes from the teat and
concretes as a yellow, waxlike mass around its orifice. About 24 hours
before the birth this gives place to a whitish, milky liquid, which
falls upon and mats the hairs on the inner sides of the legs. Another
symptom is enlargement of the vulva, with redness of its lining
membrane, and the escape of glairy mucus. The belly droops, the flanks
fall in, and the loins may even become depressed. Finally the mare
becomes uneasy, stops feeding, looks anxious, whisks her tail, and may
lie down and rise again. In many mares this is not repeated, but they
remain down; violent contractions of the abdominal muscles ensue; after
two or three pains the water bags appear and burst, followed by the fore
feet of the foal, with the nose between the knees, and by a few more
throes the fetus is expelled. In other cases the act is accomplished
standing. The whole act may not occupy more than 5 or 10 minutes. This,
together with the disposition of the mare to avoid observation, renders
the act one that is rarely seen by the attendants.

The navel string, which connects the foal to the membranes, is ruptured
when the fetus falls to the ground, or when the mare rises, if she has
been down, and the membranes are expelled a few minutes later.

NATURAL PRESENTATION.

When there is a single foal, the common and desirable presentation is
with the fore feet first, the nose between the knees, and with the front
of the hoofs and knees and the forehead directed upward toward the anus,
tail, and croup. (Plate XII, fig. 1.) In this way the natural curvature
of the body of the fetus corresponds to the curve of the womb and
genital passages, and particularly of