GESTA TION. 135 



food, and* then, by placing the hand on the before-mentioned region, the 

 foal will be felt if it is there. The dilatation of the stomach by food com- 

 presses the other abdominal organs, and especially the uterus, and the in- 

 convenient displacement excites the young creature to movement. The 

 ingestion of fluids does the same, and particularly if they are cold ; for then 

 they powerfully affect the foetus by the uncomfortable sensation they 

 give rise to. Cold water thrown against the belly, or the application of 

 the cold wet hand, will produce a similar effect. In the Cow, smart com- 

 pression of the abdomen with the closed fist, at the part just indicated, so 

 as to push the uterus upwards and allow it to return with a little force, is 

 also a good method of ascertaining the presence of the foetus, and will 

 prove successful when simple application of the flat of the hand \s\\\ fail. 

 It is most likely to succeed when there is not much food in the stomach 

 and intestines ; as the uterus is then much easier displaced. When this 

 compression has been made with some energy, the -uterus strikes the ab- 

 dominal wall immediately afterwards, and then there can be perceived a 

 firm voluminous mass ; this is the uterus containing the foetus. 



At a more advanced period, in the last two months, the movements of 

 the foetus can be easily remarked as it jumps about briskly, striking the 

 interior of the abdomen at brief intervals. This, and the other signs 

 appreciable at this time, leaves no doubt as to the existence of pregnancy. 

 The fcetal movements are never more marked and precipitous than imme- 

 diately before abortion, at a late period of gestation ; they are then ener- 

 getic, and to all appearance convulsive. 



With the smaller animals the same methods of exploration may be 

 resorted to, and with the same, or even more marked results. The per- 

 ceptible movements of the foetus of course settles the question as to preg- 

 nancy and the vitality of the young creature ; but their absence is not 

 conclusive as to the contrary, for it has not unfrequently happened that 

 the foetus remained insensible to this kind of excitation, and yet was alive 

 at birth. The tests should be applied more than once in these doubtful 

 cases. 



It may be noted that the " feel " of the abdomen distended by the uterus, 

 is very different when the distention is caused by fluid, flatus, etc. The 

 uterine tumor is firm, hard, elastic, and defined, preserving its form in all 

 positions of the body ; whereas in ascites the defined tumor is wanting, 

 there is no repercussion on compression at the flank of the Cow, the fluid 

 obeys the laws of gravitation, and the abdomen has not the same firm, 

 elastic feel. Percussion will aid in distinguishing between pregnancy and 

 tympanitis. In certain diseased conditions of the uterus, however, a 

 diagnosis is very difficult, and the next means of exploration will have, in 

 some of these embarrassing cases, to be adopted. 



Rectal exploration^ as well as that by the vagina, can only be successfully 

 carried out in the larger animals, because of the small dimensions of these 

 passages in such creatures as the Bitch and Cat. The risks attending this 

 mode of examination have been at times much exaggerated, and there is 

 really but little danger to the animal so long as reasonable precautions are 

 taken not to produce injury ; the foetus has even been pushed gently about 

 in the uterus without any accident to it or the parent. After the third 

 month it will afford an indication of pregnancy. 



To examine an ■3ccavi\2X per rectum it should be standing, and, if dangerous 

 or irritable, the twitch may be applied to the nose, or for safety to the 

 operator the hind limbs must be secured ; with the Cow the nose seized by 



