After parturition the urine of
all quadrupeds becomes thicker, especially with such animals as
exhibit comparatively slight discharges. At breeding time the milk
become purulent, but after parturition it becomes wholesome. During
pregnancy ewes and she-goats get fatter and eat more; as is also the
case with cows, and, indeed, with the females of all quadrupeds.
In general the sexual appetites of animals are keenest in
spring-time; the time of pairing, however, is not the same for all,
but is adapted so as to ensure the rearing of the young at a
convenient season.
Domesticated swine carry their young for four months, and
bring forth a litter of twenty at the utmost; and, by the way, if
the litter be exceedingly numerous they cannot rear all the young.
As the sow grows old she continues to bear, but grows indifferent to
the boar; she conceives after a single copulation, but they have to
put the boar to her repeatedly owing to her dropping after intercourse
what is called the sow-virus. This incident befalls all sows, but some
of them discharge the genital sperm as well. During conception any one
of the litter that gets injured or dwarfed is called an afterpig or
scut: such injury may occur at any part of the womb.
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