SIGXS OF PREGXAXCV. U3 



With regard to fattenintj, change of temper, etc., it is evident that 

 they may depend upon other causes than pregnancy ; and obesity 

 can only be very conspicuous in primiparous animals, or those which 

 are not rearing young ; for Glares or other creatures put to the male a 

 few days after parturition, are not likely to accumulate fat and rear 

 their progeny at the same time. When, however, all the above signs 

 are manifest in an animal, they establish a very strong presumption, 

 though not an absolute certainty, as to its condition. It is not until a 

 later period, when the abdomen begins to increase more rapidly in 

 volume, the animal becomes sluggish, and the mammio enlarge and 

 secrete the viscid fluid just described, that the existence of pregnancy 

 might safely be attirmed. 



The chances of error in diagnosing pregnancy in the first half of the 

 period are numerous, and even up to a later stage — until parturition, in 

 fact — these indicative signs may be absent. I know of an instance in 

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

 it gave birth to a dead foal, and perished. 



Sensible Signs. 



Wlien the contractility of the fa>tal muscles begins to be developed — 

 which is towards the fourth month in the larger animals — the young 

 creature can move, though the movements are too feeble to be recog- 

 nisable externally at an early period ; but later, towards the end of 

 pregnancy, they become vigorous and unmistakable. 



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

 pregnancy, various expedients have been resorted to in order to 

 ascertain with certainty the presence of the foetus in the uterus, by 

 exciting these movements. 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 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 causing these animals, but 

 especially the Mare, to run very quickly for a certain 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 discountenanced 

 and discontinued. The only useful and practicable means tliat 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 oppi^rtunities 

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

 than in woman. 



Qn 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 

 abdominal, rectal, and vaginal touch. The feci of the abdomen does not 

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

 which are small, as tlie Bitcli and Cat, a little careful manipulation will 

 render the presence of the creatures in utcro 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 con- 

 siderable differences, as pointed out by Trasbot. 



