44 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



these two parts. The inferior orifice of the dental canal of the 

 superior maxilla or infra-orbital foramen is situated opposite the 

 first molar tooth. With the exception of the camel, no ruminant 

 has incisors in the upper jaw. There is no fissure for the forma- 

 tion of the palatine canal. The cavity of the sinus is more 

 spacious than in the horse, and in the case of the ox only it is 

 prolonged between the two laminae of the palatine roof. There 

 is no alveolus for the tusk. 



Pre MAXILLARY Bone. — The premaxilla is broad. The in- 

 ferior or chief portion of this bone is flattened before and behind, 

 and devoid of alveoli in its external border. It is rarely united 

 with the adjacent bones, and is never, in the case of the smaller 

 ruminants, articulated with the nasal bone. The prsemaxillae do 

 not reach the nasals in the Saiga antelopes, though they do in 

 the case of other antelopes. The Saiga antelope has a very short 

 nasal region ; but it is prolonged by means of cartilage anteriorly. 

 In fact, the nasal bones are very short, and they end near the 

 orbits in the Saiga antelope. 



In the ox the nasal bones are rather long, but shorter and 

 broader, and not so firmly articulated as are those of the horse. 

 The superior extremity of each nasal bone is held in a groove in 

 the inferior border of the frontal bone. The lower end presents 

 two points having a notch between them. Of these two points 

 the inner one unites with its fellow to form one projection, so 

 that in the articulated skull the nasal peak presents three points, 

 but in the smaller ruminants only two. The palate bone is large 

 and very well developed in the ox, and it is noted for the breadth 

 of the palatine portion of its external surface. The palatine canal 

 is entirely channeled out in its substance. The palatine crest is 

 very thin and elevated. The lachrymal bone appears on the face, 

 is large, and at the bottom of the orbit it forms a large pro- 

 tuberance, which is crossed by the maxillary sinus. The orbital 

 plate of this bone is thin and fragile. This bone has not its 

 foramen situated externally. As was said above, the lachrymal 

 bones do not reach the nasals in the case of the goat, so that in 

 this animal there is a vacuity left between these two bones ; but 

 this is not the case in the sheep. 



The malar bone is well developed. It is bifid posteriorly. 

 The superior branch meets the orbital process of the frontal 

 bone, and the posterior branch joins the zygomatic process of 



