ng its sharp edge
forward.

In all cases in which there has been injury to the bones of the pelvis
the obvious precaution is to withhold the mare from breeding and to use
her for work only.

If a mare with a pelvis thus narrowed has got in foal inadvertently,
abortion may be induced in the early months of gestation by slowly
introducing the oiled finger through the neck of the womb and following
this by the other fingers until the whole hand has been introduced. Then
the water bags may be broken, and with the escape of the liquid the womb
will contract on the solid fetus and labor pains will ensue. The fetus
being small will pass easily.

TUMORS IN THE VAGINA AND PELVIS.--Tumors of various kinds may form in
the vagina or elsewhere within the pelvis, and when large enough will
obstruct or prevent the passage of the fetus. Gray mares, which are so
subject to black pigment tumors (melanosis) on the tail, anus, and
vulva, are the most liable to suffer from this. Still more rarely the
wall of the vagina becomes relaxed, and being pressed by a mass of
intestines will protrude through the lips of the vulva as a hernial sac,
containing a part of the bowels. If a tumor is small it may only retard
and not absolutely prevent parturition. A hernial protrusion of the wall
of the vagina may be pressed back and emptied, so that the body of the
fetus engaging in the passage may find no further obstacle. When a
tumor is too large to allow delivery the only resort is to remove it,
but before proceeding it must be clearly made out that the obstruction
is a mass of diseased tissue, and not a sac containing intestines. If
the tumor hangs by a neck it can usually be most safely removed by the
ecraseur, the chain being passed around the pedicel and gradually
tightened until that is torn through.

HERNIA OF THE WOMB.--The rupture of the musculo-fibrous floor of the
belly and the escape of the gravid womb into a sac formed by the
peritoneum and skin hanging toward the ground is described by all
veterinary obstetricians, yet it is very rarely seen in the mare. The
form of the fetus can be felt through the walls of the sac, so that it
is easy to recognize the condition. Its cause is usually external
violence, though it may start from an umbilical hernia. When the period
of parturition arrives, the first effort should be to return the fetus
within the proper abdominal cavity, and this can sometimes be
accomplished with the aid of a stout blan