420 Veterinary Obstetrics 



uterus may show that it contains no fetus and if, through its 

 walls or those of the rectum, a fetus can be recognized it becomes 

 clear that we are dealing with extra-uterine pregnancy, or at 

 least with an extra-uterine fetus. 



Fleming (Text-Book of Veterinary Obstetrics, ist Edition, p. 

 159) quotes S. Della-Rovere as having attended a case of extra- 

 uterine pregnancy in a cow, in which he removed a living calf 

 through an incision in the wall of the vagina. The citation by 

 Fleming fails wholly, however, to show that the fetus was not in 

 the uterus. No record is made as to the condition of the uterus 

 itself and it is almost certain from Fleming's quotation that it 

 was not extra-uterine pregnancy at all. 



It is not at all rare to meet with cases of uterine pregnancy 

 which closely simulate extra-uterine gestation. We have already 

 suggested, on page 383, while considering the position of the 

 fetus during gestation, that in some cases in the cow the fetus 

 pushes its way up into the pelvis alongside the vagina and can 

 be clearly felt there. This position is apparently normal and has 

 no danger, seemingly, for the life of either mother or fetus. A still 

 more puzzling condition is the bi-cornual or transverse preg- 

 nancy of the mare, in which the fetus lies beneath the vaginal 

 floor in a transverse position, in such a way as to lead the inex- 

 perienced to believe that extra-uterine pregnancy exists. 



In order to definitely recognize and verify extra-uterine preg- 

 nancy in the living animal, the following factors are essential : 

 first, we must recognize the presence of a fetus ; second, we must 

 establish the fact that it is not in the uterus, and we can do this, 

 in case of a uniparous animal, only by determining clearly that 

 the uterine cavity is vacant. The emptiness of the uterus must 

 be verified either by inserting the fingers or hand into the uter- 

 ine cavity itself, or by an ample and authentic examination of 

 the uterus per rectum. Otherwise, we can clearly determine 

 extra-uterine pregnancy only by a post-mortem examination. 



The treatment of extra-uterine gestation is rarely necessary. 

 If diagnosed, and it seems to threaten the life or health of an 

 animal, the removal of the fetus may be considered. In animals 

 which are used for meat purposes, the patient should be sent to 

 the butcher at the earliest convenience, providing the meat has 

 not been injured by decomposition of the fetus or other disease 

 induced by its presence. In carnivora, the fetus may be re- 

 moved by laparotomy. 



