250 CONDITIONS OF FATTENING. 



thus contained in plants are often absorbed with but little alteration. 

 The fattening of cattle with linseed-cake gives rise to an accumulation 

 in their adipose tissues of an oily material of unusual fluidity, and it is 

 a matter of common observation, as previously mentioned, that when 

 strong-smelling oils have been accidentally used, their flavor will be im- 

 parted to the secretion of the mammary gland. 



The quantity of fat in articles of food is commonly estimated by the 

 solvent action of sulphuric ether. It should, however, be understood 

 that we can not with correctness regard all the matters extracted by that 

 menstruum from plants as fat. 



Thus, either by forming or by collecting from the food, a supply of fat 

 The accumula- is obtained, and this is absorbed by the lacteal system in the 

 Uro- 16 " manner already described. But where fat is administered 

 tissue, in excess, so that large quantities of it are retained in the 

 system, a proportionate cell formation arises for the purpose of affording 

 it a receptacle. The walls of such cells are composed of nitrogenized 

 material, and herein is displayed the connection between the two groups 

 of bodies, the albumenoid substance and the fats. There is reason to 

 suppose that when, from the food, a sufficient quantity of nitrogenized 

 material for this purpose can not be obtained, resort is actually had to 

 the muscular fibre of the system itself, but when this also fails the fat 

 accumulates in the blood. 



In the artificial fattening of animals, the indications to be complied 

 General condi- with are very obvious : They are, 1st. To furnish an abund- 

 fattrni^golan- ant ^PP 1 / of oleaginous material in the food; 2d. To pre- 

 imais. vent, as far as possible, waste by oxidation. 



The first indication is satisfied by the purposed employment of oleag- 

 inous articles, as, for instance, linseed-cake, or by the selection, among 

 ordinary food substances, of those which, like Indian corn, abound in oil. 

 It is to be remarked that the increase of weight of an animal may take 

 place in two ways : 1st. By adding fat to the deposit in the adipose tis- 

 sues ; or, 2d. By development of the muscles. It might perhaps be ad- 

 missible to speak of the former as adipose fattening, the latter as albu- 

 menized. According as it has been subjected to one or other of these 

 processes, an animal will be very differently prepared for undergoing se- 

 vere exercise. A horse fed with Indian corn can not, under those cir- 

 cumstances, maintain himself as well as if he had been fed on oats. In 

 the former case his adipose tissues have been developed, in the latter his 

 muscular. 



The second indication is met by resorting to every expedient which 

 can restrain the action of the respired oxygen. A state of perfect quies- 

 cence is therefore to be observed. Muscular movement of every kind in- 

 creases the activity of respiration. On the contrary, rest diminishes it. 



