r parturition. _Viburnum prunifolium_
(black haw), in ounce doses, may be added if necessary. Should
parturition become inevitable, it may be favored and any necessary
assistance furnished.

DIFFICULT PARTURITION.

With natural presentation this is a rare occurrence. The great length of
the fore limbs and face entail, in the anterior presentation, the
formation of a long cone, which dilates and glides through the passages
with comparative ease. Even with the hind feet first a similar conical
form is presented, and the process is rendered easy and quick.
Difficulty and danger arise mainly from the act being brought on
prematurely before the passages are sufficiently dilated, from narrowing
of the pelvic bones or other mechanical obstruction in the passages,
from monstrous distortions or duplications in the fetus, or from the
turning back of one of the members so that the elongated conical or
wedge-shaped outline is done away with. Prompt as is the normal
parturition in the mare, however, difficult and delayed parturitions are
surrounded by special dangers and require unusual precautions and skill.
From the proclivity of the mare to unhealthy inflammations of the
peritoneum and other abdominal organs, penetrating wounds of the womb or
vagina are liable to prove fatal. The contractions of the womb and
abdominal walls are so powerful as to exhaust and benumb the arm of the
assistant and to endanger penetrating wounds of the genital organs. By
reason of the looser connection of the fetal membranes with the womb, as
compared with those of ruminants, the violent throes early detach these
membranes throughout their whole extent, and the foal, being thus
separated from the mother and thrown on its own resources, dies at an
early stage of any protracted parturition. The foal rarely survives four
hours after the onset of parturient throes. From the great length of the
limbs and neck of the foal it is extremely difficult to secure and bring
up limb or head which has been turned back when it should have been
presented. When assistance must be rendered, the operator should don a
thick woolen undershirt with the sleeves cut out at the shoulders. This
protects the body and leaves the whole arm free for manipulation. Before
inserting the arm it should be smeared with lard. This protects the skin
against septic infection and favors the introduction of the hand and
arm. The hand should be inserted with the thumb and fingers drawn
toge