DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE. 



A discussion of the subject of food and its 

 application to the animal fabric, involves a con- 

 sideration of scientific principles which reveal the 

 exact nature of the substances employed, their 

 transformation within the organism, and the 

 offices they perform at their destination. 



The immediate object of food is the development 

 and maintenance of the animal body. 



Development may be briefly stated to be that 

 process by which the various parts or organs 

 assume their relative form, size, and capabilities 

 for functional activity e.g., secretion, excretion, 

 and the like. Development is principally refer- 

 able to intra-uterine life, or that period during 

 which the future animal lies within the womb of 

 its mother, when the various organs, as the brain, 

 heart, lungs, liver, and in fact all parts of the 

 body, are acquiring their peculiar and characteristic 

 form. 



Each primitive portion gradually and con- 

 stantly receives fresh additions, and each stage 

 constitutes also a farther elaboration and assump- 

 tion of higher powers. 



Development continues also throughout a 

 period after birth. The long-legged, weedy-look- 

 ing foal is an example excellently suitable for 

 the purpose of illustration. Although as far as 

 internal organs are concerned, development may 

 be said to be in a measure complete, yet there 



