Ash in Animal Bodies 49 



hay and less than one- half of the ash of maize and 

 wheat kernels. 



The distnbution of inorganic compounds in the animal 

 body. — The bones contain a very large proportion of 

 the ash constitnents found in the animal body, the soft 

 parts being poor in mineral salts. Usually the ash 

 makes up between 60 and 70 per cent of bone, and the 

 bony framework is from 6 to 9 per cent of the entire 

 bodies of domestic animals. More than 80 per cent 

 of the ash of bone is calcium phosphate, w^hich is asso- 

 ciated with calcium carbonate, calcium fluoride, calcium 

 chloride and magnesium phosphate. 



The bones of all species of animals show a remark- 

 able similarity of composition, the average of which 

 would not be far from the following: 



In 100 parts of the ash of bone [average) 



Calcium phosphate 8:5 9 



Calcium carbonate 13. 



Calcium in other combinations ?>7) 



Fluorine 23 



Chlorine 18 



97.66 



The muscular tissue and other soft parts of the animal 

 body contain less than 1 per cent of incombustible 

 bodies. The ash of flesh is mostly phosphoric acid aud 

 potash, accompanied by comparatively small amounts 

 of soda, lime and magnesia and minute quantities of 

 chlorine and iron. Unquestionably, potassium phos- 

 phate is the predominating salt in flesh, as calcium 

 phosphate is in bone. 



