Rabbit test

Rabbit test

The rabbit test was an early pregnancy test developed in 1927 by Bernhard Zondek and Selmar Aschheim. The original test actually used mice.[1] The test consisted of injecting the tested woman's urine into a female rabbit, then examining the rabbit's ovaries a few days later, which would change in response to a hormone only secreted by pregnant women. The hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is produced during pregnancy and indicates the presence of a fertilized egg; it can be found in a pregnant woman's urine and blood. The rabbit test became a widely used bioassay (animal-based test) to test for pregnancy. The term "rabbit test" was first recorded in 1949 but became a common phrase in the English language. Xenopus frogs were also used in a similar "frog test".

Modern pregnancy tests still operate on the basis of testing for the presence of the hormone hCG. Due to medical advances, use of a live animal is no longer required.

It is a common misconception that the injected rabbit would die only if the woman was pregnant. This led to the phrase "the rabbit died" being used as a euphemism for a positive pregnancy test. In fact, all rabbits used for the test died, because they had to be surgically opened in order to examine the ovaries. While it was possible to do this without killing the rabbit, it was generally deemed not worth the trouble and expense.

In popular culture

  • The rabbit test was featured in the episode of the television series M*A*S*H entitled "What’s Up, Doc". A rabbit (Fluffy) belonging to Radar O'Reilly was used to test for pregnancy in Margaret Houlihan. To assuage Radar, rather than killing the rabbit, Hawkeye Pierce performed surgery under anesthesia. When Houlihan later thanked Radar for the use of his pet, he responded that he was sure that she would have done the same for the rabbit.
  • In the film Vibes, Cyndi Lauper's character claims, "We're just here for the rabbit test! I'm gonna have Nick's baby," to throw off a rival treasure hunter.
  • The Aerosmith song "Sweet Emotion" refers to the test: "Can't catch me 'cause the rabbit done died."
  • Country singer Eric Church also references this in his song "Two Pink Lines" saying "these days the rabbit doesn't die"
  • In the BBC comedy The Vicar of Dibley, in a purposefully absurd variation of the rabbit test mixed up with home pregnancy test kits, Alice Tinker Horton tells the vicar she can't be pregnant because she "wee'd on a hamster" and it didn't turn blue.
  • In an episode of The Golden Girls, Sophia Petrillo claims that she believes she is pregnant. Her daughter Dorothy (Bea Arthur)'s response is, "What happened? The rabbit died laughing?". The line was also said by Arthur (as Maude Findlay) in Maude's two-parter episode "Maude's Dilemma".
  • An independent short film titled Redemption Maddie centers on the idea of testing pregnancy with rabbits.
  • In Squidbillies, the rabbit test was used to determine Rusty's paternity. However, the rabbit died when Early's acidic urine "melted" the rabbit into an ooze, rather than as a result of the test procedure.
  • Billy Crystal starred in a 1978 movie Rabbit Test in which his character became pregnant.
  • In the novel The Scandalous Summer of Sissy LeBlanc by Loraine Despres, the title character makes reference to a rabbit dying as she wonders about her pregnancy test.
  • A collection of essays by Teresa Bloomingdale, columnist and mother of ten, bears the title I Should Have Seen It Coming When the Rabbit Died (1979). The title refers to an anecdote (1956) in which the rabbit used in her first pregnancy test died from jumping off the examination table, thereby shrugging off any responsibility for her ever-growing family.[clarification needed]
  • In Philip K. Dick's novel The Game-Players of Titan, pregnancy is tested by biting a strip of "rabbit paper".
  • In the 1962 episode of The Dick van Dyke Show titled "What’s in a Middle Name", Laura tried to tell Rob that she is pregnant. Rob misunderstands and thinks she has been in an auto accident. He says "You are ok? No one was hurt?" She replies, "Well, the rabbit died." Rob (and the studio audience) immediately understand her implication.
  • In the late 1970s, Volkswagen had a series of ads comparing what was then called the VW Rabbit to other cars, with the slogan "Take the Rabbit test."[citation needed]
  • In an episode of Good Times, "Stomach Mumps", Willona is hesitant to tell Penny (Janet Jackson) about the facts of life. She explains to Florida "Last month she asked about Peter Rabbit, this month it's the rabbit test!!!"
  • In Bernard Slade's comic play Same Time, Next Year, when George expresses surprise at finding Doris pregnant, she replies, "You're surprised? I insisted on visiting the dead rabbit's grave!"
  • In the Xena: Warrior Princess episode "Animal Attraction", Xena finds out she is pregnant. The disclaimer at the end of the episode claims "Although The Rabbit Died, no other animals were harmed during the production of this motion picture."
  • In House episode "Emancipation", House insists on a pregnancy test for the patient, since it doesn't take much time and 'we no longer kill rabbits'.
  • In Allison Anders' movie Grace of My Heart the character of Denise (aka Edna) says "I'm pregnant. Well, I have to wait to see if the rabbit dies"
  • In Californication episode "In Utero", Hank concludes 'the rabbit done died...' after Karen tested positive on several home pregnancy tests.
  • In an episode of Gimme a Break, the pregnant woman who says she's three months pregnant by her dentist who impregnated her while she was under laughing gas and the Chief asks why she waited so long to report the rape and she says "It took that long for the rabbit to die."
  • In an episode of "Three's Company", Larry is asked if he had ever thought of getting married. He quipped, "I did, but the rabbit got better."
  • In the episode "Hands and Knees" of the fourth season of Mad Men, set in 1965, when confronted with Joan's admission that she is "very late," Roger Sterling asks her "Have you had a rabbit test?"
  • In the episode "I'm a Liver, not a Fighter", the seventh episode of the fourth season of In Plain Sight, Marshall tells Mary, while convincing her she's pregnant: "I could hold a rabbit a block away from you and it'd still die."
  • In The Jazz Singer when Molly responds to Bubba about what the doctor said.
  • An existentialist Australian expression is "thank ya mother for the rabbit" popularised by Rex Hunt
  • the 10/11/11 New York Times crossword puzzle references the rabbit test as a clue

References

  1. ^ Morris Fishbein, M.D., ed (1976). "Aschheim-Zondek Test". The New Illustrated Medical and Health Encyclopedia. 1 (Home Library Edition ed.). New York, N.Y. 10016: H. S. Stuttman Co. pp. 139. 

External links


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