GESTATION. 129 



ments which it performs ; and to these energetic movements, it cannot 

 be doubted, are due the difficult presentations which the foetus offers so 

 frequently (at least in some species) at birth. 



SECTION III.— ^SIGNS OF PREGNANCY. 

 t 



Having traced thus far the process of uterd-gestation, we have now to 

 study the signs by which this process reveals itself. This study is very 

 important, in several respects, to the comparative pathologist, or rather 

 to the veterinary surgeon, whose science extends beyond pathology, and 

 v/ho is frequently called upon to give an opinion as to whether an animal 

 is or is not pregnant. 



The signs which announce pregnancy are numerous and varied, though 

 they are not all reliable, and several are very deceptive, and not peculiar 

 to gestation. Indeed, it has frequently happened that animals whose 

 condition was not at all certain have brought forth young, and others 

 have done the same without giving rise to any suspicion that they were 

 pregnant ; though it must be remembered that at first there is nothing 

 present to guide one in forming an opinion as to the animal having con- 

 ceived. 



Nevertheless, in order that a correct opinion may be arrived at, the 

 most equivocal signs must be taken into consideration, as well as those 

 which are, so to speak, unequivocal : indeed they ought to receive, for 

 this very reason, more than ordinary attention ; as it is a matter of much 

 moment, and particularly in cases of jurisprudence, that the veterinarian 

 should be able to speak positively as to the presence or absence of preg- 

 nancy. 



The diagnosis of pregnancy is not always easy, and it is all the more 

 difficult as the stage is early. 



In order to study the signs of pregnancy conveniently, it is usual to 

 divide them into three categories as follows : i. The rational, physiological, 

 ox subjective signs ; 2. T\\q material or objective signs ; 3. The sensible signs 

 which are derived from observation and ma?iipulation to ascertain the 

 presence of the foetus. In this study, of course the larger animals will 

 be more particularly referred to, because of their relatively higher value 

 and importance, their longer period of gestation, and also because the 

 veterinary surgeon is most frequently consulted as to their condition. 



Rational Signs. 



There are several rational signs due to the modifications brought about 

 in the economy of the pregnant animal, and manifested by alterations 

 in temperament, character, and aptitudes. 



The cessation of heat or rutting is, perhaps, the earliest subjective, 

 though it is certainly not the most certain sign, of gestation, and may 

 even lead to mistakes. It is usually manifested soon after conception 

 has taken place (six or eight days), by a diminution in the venereal ex- 

 citement which marks the period of oestrum ; the animal is comparatively 

 tranquil and does not exhibit any desire for the male, neither does she 

 show the usual concomitant symptoms of " heat." If the male ap- 

 proaches, the sexual desires are not excited, and in refusing him the 

 female may even resort to aggressive movements. So that it has usually 

 been held as a sign of conception, if the female refuses the male soon 

 after copulation, and particularly if a month or two has elapsed, and the 

 Mare is in good condition and well fed. But in some cases the symp- 



9 



