CHAPTER VI. 



ANIMAL NUTRITION. 



The Constituents of tlie Animal Body. Water, albuminoids, gelatinoids. 

 horny matter, fat, and ash constituents Composition of animals in 

 various stages of growth and fattening Composition of wool and 

 milk Loss to a farm by sale of milk, cheese, and butter Proportion 

 of carcase in different animals Composition of increase whilst fat- 

 tening. The Processes of Nutrition. The constituents of food, 

 their particular functions in the body and relative values Diges- 

 tion Respiration Excretion. 



IN order to understand the mode in which animals are 

 nourished we must first obtain some acquaintance with 

 the nature of the animal body, and understand the compo- 

 sition of the increase which takes place during growth 

 and fattening. 



The Constituents of Animals. The elements com- 

 posing the animal frame are the ten already named as 

 forming the essential constituents of plants (pp. 2 3), 

 with sodium and chlorine in addition. The two last- 

 named elements are commonly present in the succulent 

 parts of plants, but are apparently not essential to plant 

 life ; in the animal frame they are, however, indispens- 

 able. Fluorine and silicon are also always found in the 

 animal body, but are not known to be essential for life or 

 growth ; fluorine occurs in small quantities in the teeth 

 and bones, and silicon in hair, wool, and feathers. 



