34 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OP THE OX. 



nish. The articular facet of each transverse process of the 

 first four or five vertebrae retains its vertical convexity, and is, 

 moreover, concave in an autero-posterior direction. In the case 

 of the last vertebra this facet is always absent, and sometimes 

 also in the last but one. The two last dorsal vertebrae have the 

 articular processes arranged similarly to those of the lumbar 

 vertebrae. 



The bodies of the dorsal vertebrae of the ox are longer than 

 are those of the horse ; but they are very similar in form. The 

 pedicles are almost always pierced by foramina which correspond 

 to the posterior notches. The transverse processes are large, and 

 they diminish in size and assume an arched form from before 

 backwards, and those of the fourth dorsal vertebra are usually 

 the longest. The dorsal vertebrae of the sheep and goat, as is 

 to be expected, are relatively less strong than are those of the 

 ox. Their spinous processes are, moreover, not so wide, and 

 their posterior notches are never converted into foramina. 



The lumbar vertebrae of the ox are longer and thicker than in 

 the horse, the bodies being more convex on the lateral and 

 inferior surfaces. The transverse processes are, as a rule, long 

 and more strongly developed, concave on the anterior border, 

 convex on the posterior, and they incline slightly downwards, 

 with the exception of the two first, which remain nearly hori- 

 zontal. Moreover, they increase in length from the first to the 

 fourth vertebra, those of the fourth being therefore the longest, 

 though those of the fifth are not much less, and those of the 

 last suddenly become shorter. Their width gradually diminishes 

 from before to behind. The lumbar vertebrae do not articulate 

 ■with one another, nor with the sacrum. Their articular pro- 

 cesses are small and prominent, and further removed from the 

 median line in the posterior vertebrae. 



The Sacrum. — The sacrum of the ox is larger and more 

 prominently arched than is that of the horse, and its superior 

 surface is more convex. The spinous processes are more firmly 

 united, and they are also surmounted by a thick rugged lip. 

 They are lengthened at their base and on each side by a ridge 

 which represents the rudiments of the articular processes. The 

 lateral borders are sharp, and bent downwards. The superior 

 foramina are not very markedly regular, the under surface is 

 more concave, the promontory is more marked, and the inferior 



