FECUNDITY. 117 



tions from local disease, the defect may be corrected in 

 many instances by active exercise, low diet, or deple- 

 tion ; but when the local derangements of the system 

 are the result of disease it will be difficult to restore 

 the normal activity of the function, even under the 

 most skillful treatment. 



A remarkable development of the tendency to lay 

 on fat is usually accompanied by a delicacy of consti- 

 tution, a diminished secretion of milk, and a loss of 

 fecundity. 



It is a popular notion that very fat animals are not 

 likely to be good breeders, and when, even in flocks 

 and herds that are not highly bred, a marked ten- 

 dency to lay on fat is observed in precocious females, 

 their ability to breed is often called in question. The 

 general prevalence of such opinions seems to indicate 

 that experience has shown that the excessive produc- 

 tion of fat is incompatible with a high development 

 of the reproductive powers ; and it is for this reason 

 that objections are made to what is called " show con- 

 dition " in breeding stock. 



Prof. Tanner, one of the best authorities on this 

 subject, says : " The non-impregnation of the female 

 may generally be traced to an excessive fatness in one 

 or both of the animals, and an absence of constitu- 

 tional vigor. The breeding powers are most energetic 

 when the animals are in moderate condition, uninflu- 

 enced either by extreme fatness or leanness." J 



The antagonism of the reproductive functions and 

 the " fatty diathesis " is shown in the fact, well known 

 to feeders, that the removal of the ovaries of the fe- 



1 Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society ', 1865, p. 265. 



