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CHAPTER II. 



THE ANATOMY OF THE OX. 

 SECTION I.—THE SKELETON OF THE OX. 



Before we introduce our kind and patient readers to a subject 

 which at first sight seems very dry and uninteresting, we must 

 beg for an especial degree of indulgence. As a matter of fact, 

 many topics appear difficult which are really not so if they are 

 approached in the right way. We are, however, far from think- 

 ing that we have done this part of our work thoroughly, or, at 

 any rate, anything like so satisfactorily as we might have hoped 

 to have done it, had it been possible to have expended more time 

 upon it. However, we have delayed the appearance of our work 

 quite as long as was advisable, and hence we must be content to 

 leave this section in its present state, hoping that if the readers 

 will peruse our remarks with the aid of actual specimens before 

 them, so far as possible, they will be able to learn the main points 

 quickly and correctly. 



Speaking generally, the proportion of animal matter in fully- 

 developed bones may be said to be about one-third. Sometimes, 

 especially in young animals, there may be too large a proportion 

 of animal matter, and when young animals suffer from rachitis 

 their bones may be incapable of supporting the super-incum- 

 bent weight. Again, bones differ in regard to density. For 

 example, the bones of the legs of a cart-horse are larger than 

 those of a thoroughbred ; but at the same time they do not 

 weigh so much in proportion to their size, because the shell or 

 outer layer is thinner. In the case of the thoroughbred it is 

 clear that a greater compactness of osseous tissue is necessary in 

 order to resist the great amount of concussion engendered by the 



