12 DR. EMMONS' REPORT. April, 



stupid indifference, and creates, in the room of a faithful servant, a 

 sullen ill-tempered dependant. 



The intellect of the ox, though less than that of the horse, is yet of a 

 high character, when compared with a majority of animals. That he 

 is capable of filling the sphere in which he was destined to move, before 

 his reclamation from the forest, is saying no more than can be said of 

 all other animals. His intellect, under a course of education, will 

 advance him higher than what we should expect from his ordinary 

 appearance in a state of servitude. 



Under some circumstances, he even exhibits the sagacity of the 

 dog. In South Africa, the Hottentots train their oxen not only to 

 guard themselves but their flocks. Tn case of war with neighboring 

 tribes, he is sent forward on the battle field, and the herd, moving in 

 concert, overthrow every opposing obstacle, and dius prepare the way 

 for an easy conquest of the enemy. They in fact are both the pro- 

 tectors and servants of the Caffre. What the character of the Caf- 

 fre ox is, so probably was our domestic ox previous to his galling 

 servitude to the European. He is equally susceptible of improve- 

 ment under the hand of culture, and equally capable of increasing his 

 amount of service and of value. His fidelity and usefulness may yet 

 be increased during his life, and when put to the stall for slaughter, 

 he may yield a two-fold value to the proprietor. 



The ox, in the domesticated slate, seems more liable to disease than 

 ihosespecies which yet remain unreclaimed from the forest. On this 

 point, however, mistakes may arise from our not being able to observe 

 the condition of the latter. It is rare to meet with any of the wild animals 

 under disease. In original structure and bottom, the ox is firm and 

 sound. The bones of the skeleton are hard and strong, and its general 

 resemblance to that of man is quite striking. The greatest deviation 

 of form in any single bone, is in that of the lower jaw. In man it is 

 short and square ; in the ox and all other quadrupeds, except the 

 elephant, it is long and tapering. He differs from man also in the 

 number and form of the metatarsal and metacarpal bones. His ap- 

 paratus too, for digestion and assimilation, is larger even in propor- 

 tion to size, and more complicated. In these particulars, and others 

 which might be noticed, the changes are specially adapted to fit his 

 organization to this condition. This is true of all the species of the 



