36 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



large and circular. In the case of the sternum of ruminants 

 each piece is developed from two centres of ossification situated 

 side by side. Seven separate bones make up the sternum in 

 these animals, and they are much more closely united than are 

 the bones which compose the sternum of the horse. With the 

 exception of the first piece, the rest are united with one another 

 by ossification at an early period. The first segment or 

 manubrium, however, is joined to the second by a true 

 diarthrodial articulation, whereby it can move laterally. There 

 is no cervical prolongation, and the xiphoid cartilage is only 

 slight, and it is, moreover, well detached from the body of 

 the bone. This diarthrodial articulation between the two first 

 pieces is not present in the case of the sheep and the goat. In 

 these animals they are simply united by a layer of cartilage,, 

 which in old animals is completely ossified. 



Pelvis. — The pelvis of a ruminant is very long, and the hind 

 legs are longer than the fore legs. The symphysis also is long. 



The OS innominatum is larger, but of the same general ap- 

 pearance as is the same bone of the horse. The ilium is thick, 

 and is marked with a prominent line, which runs from the 

 anterior spine to the superior ischiatic ridge. Its internal sur- 

 face is very convex, the ridge between the part resting on the 

 sacrum and that which lies without it being well marked. The 

 ilio-pectineal eminence is prominent, and the crest and spines 

 are very strong. The ischium is of about the same size as the 

 ilium. The anterior extremity has a thick projecting external 

 portion, which forms part of the cotyloid cavity, and is sur- 

 mounted by the large superior ischiatic spine, from which a 

 slight ridge is continued backwards over the thick concave body 

 to the tuberosity. The inferior ischiatic spine is conical in 

 shape, and it points outwards and downwards. On the ischial 

 symphysis inferiorly are a ridge and tubercle, which are absent 

 in the case of the horse. 



The pubis is large and concave. The symphysis pubis is 

 never completely ossified. The cotyloid cavity is deep, and the 

 cotyloid notch is narrow and deep, and near the large foramen 

 ovale. The inlet of the pelvic cavity is oval, and its sacro- 

 pubic diameter is greater than its transverse one, while the sacro- 

 ischiatic diameter of the outlet is less than the transverse. 



The Hind Limb. — The /ey^zw/*, or thigh-bone, is distinguished 



