390 Veterinary Obstetrics 



available as that per rectum and is quite inapplicable, as a rule, 

 until very near the close of pregnancy. 



In the mare and cow, rectal exploration affords conclusive 

 evidence of the presence of a fetus. If the rectum is properly 

 emptied and the oiled hand is introduced to the full length of 

 the arm, it is generally possible to reach the fetus as it lies within 

 the uterus and, by careful palpation, to distinguish its parts. 

 Usually in the course of this palpation, after the mid-term of 

 pregnancy, the fetus reacts to the touch and moves somewhat, 

 revealing not only its presence, but also the fact that it is living. 



In some cases, however, when the fetus has acquired con- 

 siderable volume and the abdomen of the mother is quite 

 capacious and pendulous, the fetus drops so far away forward 

 that it may be almost out of the examiner's reach. In such 

 cases the examiner will find the enlarged tightly stretched 

 vagina passing over the brim of the pelvis and disappearing 

 forward into the abdominal cavity. This is in marked contrast 

 to the normal non-gravid uterus, which can be readily dis- 

 tinguished and picked up by the hand per rectum. When the 

 uterus has thus disappeared out of reach forward, the ovaries 

 have also been dragged with it and cannot be touched. This 

 absence of the uterus from its normal non-gravid position and 

 the presence of the enlarged and stretched vagina extending 

 forward, is at least conclusive evidence that the uterus has been 

 borne forward by a load of some character, which we would at 

 once assume to be a fetus. Further manipulation will reveal the 

 presence of the fetus, some part of it lying within reach. 



In making the examination per vagina or per rectum, great 

 care should be taken to provoke as little excitement of the 

 animal or irritation of the uterus as is possible. It is needless to 

 suggest that the examination per vaginam should be made under 

 antiseptic precautions and in a manner which would not cause 

 straining. The examination should be made through the walls 

 of the vagina at the sides of the cervix uteri and not through 

 the OS uteri, as this would inevitably jeopardize the life of the 

 fetus. 



Ballottement may be carried out in two ways. Some claim 

 that ballottement can be practiced in small animals, the same as in 

 human obstetrics, per vaginam : but it would seem that the re- 



