Pregnancy 199 
womb) become apparent, especially after the animal 
has taken a drink of cold water. These are peculiar 
jerking or kicking movements, and are observed in 
the region of the dam’s flank, particularly on the right 
side. They can often be felt by placing the hand firmly 
against the flank. In cows, as pregnancy advances, 
there is often a small rope of mucus, called by eattle- 
men a “tag,” hanging from the vulva. In large ani- 
mals, as cows and mares, pregnancy can sometimes be 
detected by a physical examination. The rectum is 
emptied, two assistants pass a folded blanket under 
the animal’s belly and lift up, while the operator, 
his hand and arm oiled and inserted into the rectum, 
feels for the uterus, which lies just beneath the 
rectum. When the uterus is found, a quick push 
downward is given with the flat hand, and the hand 
held quietly in position. If the animal is pregnant, 
the small fetus will be felt as it bobs back against 
the hand, like a cork floating in water. The preg- 
nant uterus felt in this manner is much larger than 
the normal uterus, and it lies about half an arm’s 
length from the vulva. Sometimes animals, par- 
ticularly mares, show few if any signs of pregnancy 
until they surprise their owners with their living 
young. 3 
Pregnant animals should be kept in fair flesh, not 
very fat nor very thin. They should have plenty of 
exercise, and laxative, but not too bulky food. Harsh 
treatment, excitement and violent exercise should be 
avoided, such as fast driving, heavy pulling, wallow- 
ing in snow-drifts or mire, slipping on ice, crowding 
