32 



THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



speedy pace. Hence the shell of the bones is thicker, and thereby, 

 of course, greater strength is afforded without much increase in 

 size. 



The Vertebral Column. — The ox has 7 cervical vertebrse, 

 13 dorsal, 6 lumbar, 5 sacral, and from 16 to 20 coccygeal ver- 

 tebree. The sheep differs by having 6 or 7 lumbar, 4 sacral, and 

 also from 16 to 24 coccygeal vertebree. 



Taking first the cervical vertebrae into consideration, we find 

 that these vertebrse in the case of the ox differ from those of 

 solipeds by their shortness and by the greater development of 



Fig. 1. — Skeleton of the Cow. 



the eminences for the insertion of muscles. The bodies of the 

 cervical vertebrae of the ox are, in fact, shorter than are those of 

 the horse. The neural spines are large. The atlas^ or first 

 cervical vertebra, is very large, but it is smaller than is that of 

 the horse. Its alee are more horizontal, and they are turned 

 up slightly at the external borders. The spinal foramen is large, 

 and there is no posterior lateral one. The condyloid articula- 

 tions are wide. The transverse processes of the atlas are less 

 inclined than in the case of the horse. The posterior facets for 

 articulation with the axis are small and nearly flat, and blended 

 into one. 



