134 PATHOLOGY OF PREGNANCY. 



cases. For the smaller animals the same drugs may be prescribed, 

 with the addition of cod-liver oil, and milk-and-oatmeal porridge for 

 food. 



Constipation. 



Constipation is, of course, due to many causes, some of which have 

 no relation to pregnancy. This condition, however, is not at all rare, 

 particularly in the Carnivora, during gestation ; and in all animals it 

 may be largely remedied, or altogether removed, by suitable diet and 

 exercise. Purgatives should be avoided, if possible, and only mild 

 laxatives resorted to if necessary. For the Bitch, which appears to 

 suffer most frequently from constipation, Saint-Cyr recommends the 

 administration, every day for eight or ten days, of five to eight grammes 

 of white mustard ; but I have always found castor-oil, witli enemas 

 when the constipation was very obstinate, quite satisfactory. Castor 

 or linseed oil, or even boiled linseed, answers well for the larger animals. 



Vomiting. 



Contrary to what occurs in woman, vomiting in pregnant animals is 

 so unfrequent that I have been able to find mention of only one instance, 

 and that is in the Belgian Etat Sanitaire des Aniniaux Domestiques for 

 1877. 



Colic. 



Colic may appear in some instances during the early months of 

 pregnancy in the Mare, the attacks being generally slight, and occurring 

 at intervals. It may be due to indigestion, and only require simple 

 treatment — as warm gruel, friction to the abdomen, enemas of warm 

 water, and laxative food, such as linseed mashes. 



CEdenia. 



The infiltration of serosity into the connective tissue of certain parts 

 of the body of pregnant animals — almost exclusively the Mare — is some- 

 what allied to the anasarca serosa of woman. The period at which it 

 is manifested depends much upon breed, conformation, and individual 

 temperament, as well as upon the season and hygienic conditions. With 

 common-bred, lymphatic Mares deprived of sufficient exercise, it appears 

 at an early period — from the eighth month of gestation, and sometimes 

 earlier — particularly in winter. With better bred animals it is later, 

 and in summer may not appear at all in those which are well bred. It 

 is most marked in primiparas. It commences usually at the inferior 

 part of the hind limbs, gradually ascending to the hocks, or higher ; the 

 fore limbs are also attacked, though not so markedly ; and the swelling 

 extends to the lower surface of the abdomen. Here it commences by a 

 soft tumour in front of the udder ; this increases in size and spreads 

 over that gland, as high as the vulva, down the inner surface of the 

 thighs, and towards the chest, sternum, and fore-arms. It readily dis- 

 appears or diminishes with exercise, and is probably due to the pressure 

 exercised by the foetus on the pelvi-crural vessels, as well as, perhaps, 

 to the anaemic condition of the system. The exemption of the Cow 

 from oedema has been ascribed to the great development of the mam- 

 mary veins in this animal, and their free communication with others, 

 which permits a ready return of the blood from the hind limbs. 



There is nothing serious in this oedema of pregnancy, as in nearly 

 every case it can be counteracted by exercise or hand-rubbing, and it 

 disappears in a day or two after birth. 



