640 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



tended and cherished with fondest maternal care ; and being a 

 member of the class mammalia, it is fed with an important and 

 highly nutritious fluid, milk secreted by a special organ, known 

 as the breast or mammary gland. 



Thus the young animal is in the general way dependent for 

 some considerable period upon its mother for care, for nourish- 

 ment, and for warmth. Moreover, so wisely are the laws of 

 nature made, so beneficently are necessary connections of this 

 kind rendered agreeable ones, that the supply of what is 

 requisite for the safety of the offspring it is one of the highest 

 pleasures to the maternal parent to afford. There are to 

 this rule, as to others, exceptions ; but its almost universal 

 truth among mankind and animals alike is indisputable. In 

 the case of human beings this dependence of the young upon 

 the parents is carried on until a much later period of life, and to 

 a much greater and wider extent. When we, men and women, 

 think of what our parents have done for us, we cannot but find 

 it our highest pleasure always to cherish them in their old age, 

 or their memory, if they have left us, in humble thankfulness, full 

 well knowing that, but for them and their long-continued 

 fostering care, we would not even have preserved our lives, far 

 less done any good work in the world. 



Having now briefly sketched some of the general aspects of 

 reproduction, we will now give the periods of gestation, and at 

 the same time, also, the average number of respirations, of 

 pulse-beats, and the normal temperature in different domesticated 

 animals : — 



Period of Gestation. Respirations. Pulse. Temperature. 



Mare 340 days. Horse 9 36 99° F. 



Cow 280 ,, Ox 15 to 60 65 101° F. 



Sheep and goat 150 ,, Sheep 30 to 200 75 102^° F. 



Pig 120 „ Pig 15 to 25 103i° F. 



Dog 63 „ Dog 100i° F. 



Cat 55 „ 



Rabbit ... 30 ., 



The periods of gestation vary with individuals and with 

 breeds, with the sex of the offspring, the age, strength, and 

 condition of the mother. 



We now proceed to consider some of those rather too 

 numerous adverse conditions which are liable to be met with 



