80 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



The spinal cord of the ox is not prolonged further hackwards 

 than in the case of the horse. 



As compared with the horse, the optic nerves and pituitary 

 glands are large, and the testes are more separated from the nates 

 than is the case in that animal. The cerebral convolutions are 

 fewer but larger, and the hemispheres are larger posteriorly. 

 The jugular ganglion and the pharyngeal branch of the tenth 

 nerve are both very large. The recurrent nerves are separated 

 from the trunk of the vagus and the carotid artery by the 

 oesophagus, and the latter is more amply supplied with nerves 

 than is the gullet of the horse. The superior oesophageal branch 

 chiefly supplies the rumen, while the inferior oesophageal branch 

 is distributed to the other compartments of the stomach. The 

 spinal accessory nerve divides into two branches, superior and 

 inferior, the latter supplying the muscles of the lower portion 

 of the lateral cervical region. 



The radial nerve gives off two cutaneous branches which pass 

 downwards. One of these terminates at the carpus, while the 

 other, becoming more anterior, descends upon the metacarpus 

 and supplies the dorsal nerves of the digits. The median and 

 cubital nerves are not connected at the carpus, but continued 

 downwards, the former as the internal, the latter as the external, 

 metacarpal nerve, each supplying its respective digit. Near the 

 distal end of the metacarpus a branch from the internal meta- 

 carpal nerve passes across-to join the external metacarpal nerve, 

 while lower down a second branch from the internal nerve forms 

 the external collateral nerve of the inner digit, and still lower a 

 third branch from the same source forms the internal collateral 

 nerve common to both the digits. In the nerves of the lumbo- 

 «acral plexus it is noticeable that the dorsal nerves of the digits 

 are given off by the musculo-cutaneous nerve. From the anterior 

 tibial nerve a branch passes down the anterior groove in the 

 metatarsus. It divides in the digital notch to form the posterior 

 deep digital nerves. There is no branch connecting the external 

 and internal metatarsal nerves. 



THE EAK, EYE, HAIE, HORNS, AND HOOFS. 

 The concha of the ear of Ruminants is widely open, projects 

 outwards, and is less mobile than that of the horse. The handle 

 of the malleus is more curved than in the horse. 



