134 OBSTETRICAL PHYSIOLOGY. 



which an unfortunate Mare was ridden to hounds until the day before it 

 gave birth to a dead foal, and died itself. 



Sensible Signs. 



To obviate as much as possible the risks of error in diagnosing preg- 

 nancy, various expedients have been devised and resorted to, in order to 

 ascertain with certainty the presence of the foetus in the uterus. Some of 

 these are as barbarous as they are stupid. One especially merits the 

 strongest condemnation ; this is pouring water into the ears of the Mare 

 or Cow, under the supposition, that if the animal is not pregnant that it 

 will shake its whole body to get rid of the fluid, but if pregnant that it will 

 only shake the head and ears. Another cruel and dangerous test is caus- 

 ing these animals, but especially the Mare, to run very quickly for a cer- 

 tain time, and to give them cold water to drink or oats to eat immediately 

 afterwards, in order to excite inordinate movements in the foetus. It will 

 readily be understood that these, and other vicious practices, are very 

 likely to produce abortion, and that they should therefore be discounte- 

 nanced and discontinued. The only useful and practicable means that can 

 be resorted to, are those which appeal to the senses of touch, sight, and 

 hearing. But it must be remarked that these have fewer opportunities for 

 their exercise, and are more limited in their application, in animals than 

 in woman. 



To feeling or touching, watching the movements of the foetus as they 

 are manifested externally, and auscultation, we must mainly rely, and 

 these afford, with the other signs, the only conclusive evidence we can 

 obtain. 



The indications obtainable by manual exploration are through the ab- 

 dominal., rectal, and vagi7ial touch. The feel of the abdomen does not 

 yield equally certain results in all the domesticated animals. In those 

 which are small, as the Bitch and Cat, a little careful manipulation will 

 render the presence of the creatures ///■ iitero very evident towards the 

 middle period of gestation ; but in the larger .animals — the Mare and Ass 

 on the one hand, and the Cow on the other — there exist considerable dif- 

 ferences, as pointed out by Trasbot. * 



With the Cow, after the fifth or sixth month, the presence of the foetus 

 can be readily ascertained by this means ; but in solipeds, it is not until 

 the seventh or eighth month that the same information can be derived ; and, 

 besides, it is not always easy to apply this mode of investigation to these 

 animals, from their fidgetiness. It is better to examine the animal when it 

 is standing, as the signs are not so jDerceptible when it is recumbent. The 

 examiner stands on the right side of the Cow, the left of the Mare, with 

 his back towards the animal's head, and applies the palm of his right or 

 left hand against the abdomen, immediately below the flank, and about 

 eight or ten inches in front of the stifle, and just above the udder, press- 

 ing moderately, the other hand resting on the back. At this part of the 

 abdomen a hard voluminous mass can be felt in the uterus, while the 

 movements of the foetus are perceptible, as it stirs at irregular intervals, 

 and causes the jerks and shock of its displacements to be communicated 

 to the walls of the abdomen. These movements are strongest in the 

 morning, and are more distinct if the mother is eating or drinking, espe- 

 cially if the water is cold, or immediately after feeding. Some old authori- 

 ties recommend that, to render the movements of the foetus more percept- 

 ible, the Mare should be trotted, then put in the stable and given some 



