SECTION V. 



ASH IN ANIMALS. 



The ash in animals is small in amount but it is very important 

 that animals receive sufficient of this constituent for the full de- 

 velopment of their bodies. 



Mineral Constituents must be supplied to build bones, teeth, 

 and other hard parts of the animal body. The digestive fluids, 

 blood, brain and other parts of the animal, require mineral sub- 

 stances to render them complete. In order that many parts of 

 the animal body may carry on their functions, mineral com- 

 pounds must be constantly furnished. To form bones and teeth, 

 calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, carbonates, chlorides, and fluor- 

 ides are necessary. 



The gastric juice must be supplied with mineral elements to 

 form hydrochloric acid and chlorides. Potassium is also present 

 in the gastric juice as well as in the saliva. Iron is found in the 

 blood and iodine in the thyroid gland. Sulphur and phosphorus 

 are present in the brain, blood and many other organs, un- 

 oxidized. 



Calcium and Phosphorus. These are the most important min- 

 eral elements entering into animal life. Often the soil becomes 

 depleted of calcium and phosphorus, and plants grown on such 

 soil, when used for animal food, sometimes lack sufficient quanti- 

 ties of these elements for the production of bones, milk, eggs, 

 flesh, wool, nerves, etc. and for the general welfare of the animal. 



Malnutrition. Again some of our feeding materials never 

 do contain sufficient amounts of calcium and phosphorus for 

 the animal, and serious diseases are sometimes brought about 

 through malnutrition of bones. Corn grain or corn meal, for 

 example, when fed alone as food for hogs in the pen, does not 

 supply enough of the mineral elements to form rigid bones to 

 support the body. An examination of the composition of the ash 

 of the bones of an ox may be interesting. 



