DIAGNOSIS OF PREGNANCY 33 



occurs quite often. Many practitioners therefore always 

 examine the uterus after delivery to see whether another calf 

 is present. This custom is good and ought to be cultivated by 

 the young practitioner. At the same time the uterine con- 

 tractions of a uterus disturbed by multiple pregnancy are 

 weak and short, so that often quite some time passes before 

 the envelopes reach the vaginal passage. Owners often try 

 to subdue strong pains, fearing a prolapsus, while just these 

 contractions are concerned in the expulsion of the unexpected 

 foetus. 



6.— Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis of Pregnancy 



By pregnancy, that state of a female is understood when 

 the foetus develops; from a eutokological point of view it is 

 also the development of the foetus in the uterus — graviditus 

 uterina. This differentiation is made, as also a pregnancy 

 exists, where the foetus does not develop in the uterus 

 itself, but externally to it, which shall be discussed later 

 on. 



In the previous paragraphs, changes of the position of 

 the gravid uterus have already been dealt with. We further 

 know that in the uterus and surroundings various changes 

 take place. 



The nutrition of the foetus deprives the tissues of the 

 mother of constituents which must be replaced, besides that 

 gestation considerably modifies the circulation. All this gives 

 rise to certain symptoms which lead us to think that the 

 animal is pregnant. In a later period, when the foetus moves, 

 other symptoms manifest themselves, induced directly by the 

 foetus. These especially simplify the diagnosis of pregnancy. 

 After conception, respectively fecundation of the ovum, the 

 visible changes in the pregnant animal are very limited ; 

 even after some weeks little is noticeable. One of the first 

 symptoms suggestive of pregnancy is caused by the fact that 

 no more eggs leave the ovaries periodically, and that the 

 symptoms accompanying the process — rutting — do not become 



