ACCIDENTS OF PREGNAiWV 209 



Symptoms. — The symptomatology of abortion is extremely varied, 

 being in some cases so trifling that, as already said, the accident may 

 be unperceived, so far as the female is concerned ; while in others the 

 symptoms indicate a very serious condition. This usually depends on 

 the period of pregnancy at which the accident occurs. 



Generally, abortion takes place without any premonitory indications, 

 and the animal may be as well and lively as usual up to the moment 

 when the foetus is expelled; and' the expulsion itself is so sudden, so 

 prompt, and accomplished with so little visible effort or disturbance, 

 that the accident in most cases receives very little, if any notice. It 

 frequently occurs during the night, and wonder is often expressed at 

 finding in the morning the aborted fietus — generally contained in its 

 intact envelopes — lying behind an animal which, on the previous even- 

 ing, looked perfectly well, and even now is so cheerful and unaltered, 

 and its functions so unimpaired, that it can scarcely be believed that 

 it has been the subject of such a mishap. Even the sentiment of 

 maternity, which is so strongly developed in animals, as Saint-Cyr 

 justly remarks, is not awakened in favour of the expelled fcctus, and the 

 mother shows the utmost indifference to it, even treading on it as if it 

 were in no way related to her. 



When this simple abortion has taken place during the day, it has 

 been noted that the flanks fall in a little, the abdomen descends, the 

 vulva and vagina slightly dilate, and there escapes from them a gluti- 

 nous, sometimes sanguinolent, fluid, with which the ftctus is passed 

 almost without effort. We have said that the ovum or foetus is 

 generally expelled in its intact membranes ; this more frequently 

 happens at an early stage of pregnancy. Sometimes, however, the 

 amnion ruptures at the commencement of abortion, and the embryo or 

 ftftus escapes with a small quantity of liquor amnii, the envelopes being 

 rejected soon after ; or in some instances they may be retained in the 

 utei-us, and thus constitute a source of danger, the animal not making 

 any effort to get rid of them. This complicated abortion occurs more 

 frequently at the later stages of pregnancy, and more resembles normal 

 birth than simple abortion, which is most frequently witnessed in the 

 first half of pregnancy. Nevertheless, we have the latter happen so 

 late sometimes as the seventh or eighth month in the larger animals. 

 It is observed more particularly in those which are debilitated from any 

 cause ; but, at the same time, animals which apjjear in the very best 

 health are often the subjects of simple abortion. 



So little disturbance does this kind of abortion cause, that the animal 

 can be treated in eveiy way as if nothing had happened ; though it is 

 more judicious to give it a little extra care for some hours at least. 



In what has been termed laborious, difficult, or complicated abortion, 

 which is often due to external causes, such as injuries, the precursory 

 symptoms are generally well marked, and vary somewhat, according as 

 the fnetus may be dead or alive. The animal suddenly appears dull and 

 peculiarly dejected ; or it is restless, uneasy, and continually moving 

 about ; if pregnancy is advanced and the fa-tus is alive and strong, its 

 movements are, on watching the abdomen attentively, perceived to be 

 frequent, violent, and disordered, but they soon become feeble and 

 infrequent, and cease altogether when the foetus has succumbed. The 

 appetite is lost, a plaintive neigh in the Mare, moan in the Cow, or 

 bleat in the Sheep, is emitted every now and again ; the pulse is quick, 

 small, and hard as in haemorrhage ; progression isdiflBcult and unsteady; 



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