38 BOVINE OBSTETRICS 



quence, the blood vessels are compressed, whicli induces cir- 

 culatory disturbances, and this gives rise to fcetal movements. 

 We know that accumulation of carbon dioxide and want of 

 oxygen in the placental blood, as also arterial ausemia of the 

 uterus, are capable of bringing about foetal movements. In 

 practice, one makes use of it by allowing the cow a draught of 

 cold water while examining her. As a result of the entrance 

 of a greater amount of cold water, a contraction of the smaller 

 arteries and a decreased blood supply to the uterus is pro- 

 duced. Severe exertion, as running in the pasture, increases 

 the consumption of oxygen, and thus stronger foetal move- 

 ments may result. 



EXAMINATION OP THE UDDER. 



In primiparffi the presence of a sticky, yellowish, viscid 

 liquid in the udder makes pregnancy a decided probability. 

 The swelling of the udder a few weeks before the expiration 

 of her term, points toward pregnancy; besides that, a number 

 of phenomena permit an earlier diagnosis. 



OBSTETRICAL AUSCULTATION. 



By it we understand the detection of the foetal heart 

 sounds. Mayer of Genf (1818) was the first who observed in 

 man the foetal heart-beat on auscultation of the abdomen. 

 Kergaradec (1822) differentiates between two important phe- 

 nomena on auscultation, viz., heart sounds of the foetus and 

 uterine sounds. In man, obstetrical auscultation is a valuable 

 auxiliary means for the diagnosis ; the life and presence of the 

 foetus can thus be established with a great deal of certainty. 

 In cows, many tests have been made to define whether 

 auscultation of the heart sounds is a practical measure to 

 recognize pregnancy. Lafosse of Toulouse was the first to 

 communicate in 1857, to have learned the heart-beats of the 

 foetus on examining numerous pregnant cows ; it being especi- 

 ally marked at the sixth month. In 1857 HoUman published 

 that he also observed them. Saake in 1869 contributed the 

 details of investigations along that line. He used the stetho- 



