CHAPTER IX. 



FUNCTIONS OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 



CESTRUM. BREEDING. PARTURITION. 



OESTRUM. 



CEsTRUM, or the period at which sexual desires commence, 

 is in the bitch an irregular function. Some animals only be- 

 come so affected once or twice a year, while others do so 

 much oftener. A mastiff-bitch belonging to myself which up 

 to a late period in life proved barren, would almost at any 

 time allow connection. 



The signs of cestrum are not long manifested, before at- 

 tention is attracted to the consequent change of condition and 

 manners of the animal. The usually morose bitch of savage 

 disposition suddenly becomes gentle and inclined to caresses. 

 The presence of a strange dog, to which she has hitherto been 

 noted for her antipathy, increases her wish to fraternize, no 

 matter of how low degree the animal is ; every tempting pos- 

 ture will be exhibited, and every means exerted to attract his 

 notice and win his affections. The generative organs exter- 

 nally are full, vascular, and hot, a glairy discharge issues from 

 the vaginal orifice, which rapidly increases in quantity and 

 gradually changes in character, becoming first blood-stained, 

 and eventually blood itself under an altered condition. There 



(>39) 



