DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 407 



liable to many afflictions of the heart in all respects similar to 

 tliose which attack mankind. 



SECTION III.— DISEASES OF THE BESPIBATOBY 

 SYSTEM. 



The derangements which may affect the respiratory system of 

 any class of animals are of numerous kinds, and manifestly of 

 very great importance. Many of them are essentially amenable 

 to judicious management, but they require to be attended to as 

 well and as thoroughly as possible. If taken in hand at once, 

 many of these disorders we are considering can be checked, 

 and the patients thereby enabled to overcome the serious 

 difficulties from which they are temporarily suffering, and 

 then btait afresh once more with a new lease of life. On 

 the other hand, if not stopped, the disease will soon lead on 

 to death. In dealing with any one system of organs, one must 

 bear in mind that all the different functions of the animal body 

 are very intimately connected. As an instance of this, we may 

 mention that the three processes of digestion, circulation, and 

 respiration are necessarily bound up together, and are at the 

 same time all dependent in the highest degree on the working of 

 the nervous system. After a full meal, no animal should be put 

 to any severe exertion, until digestion has made headway. This 

 rule is very applicable in the case of the ox, since in that animal 

 the digestion of the food is a long operation. It is also equally 

 important in ourselves ; and not only should we remember that 

 physical activity will retard the process of digestion, but we 

 should also note that mental exertion is a most serious hindrance 

 to that important operation of the digestive organs. 



During this process there is a large flow of blood to those 

 organs; and, moreover, the movements of the diaphragm are 

 impeded, whereby respiration is rendered difficult. This, how- 

 ever, does iacilitate the regurgitation which takes place during 

 the chewing of the cud. Leaving this subject of the connection 

 of the different functions, it is to be noted that in the case of the 

 full-grown ox the number of respirations per minute is about 

 IGg^, whereas in the young animal it is about 19. The respira- 

 tory movements are frequent, but not deep. The diseases of the 



