INTRODUCTION. 23 



as to become a great deformitj^ — it indicates weakness and imtlirifti- 



iiess. 



It will be unnecessary to describe the remaining bones of the hind 

 leg and foot, as they closely resemble those of the fore leg, and have 

 also the same names. 



The Skin. The hide or skin consists of three layers ; the first and 



outermost called the scarf skin, the central mucous substance, and the 

 innermost or true skin. 



The Scarf Skin is the outermost layer. It is thicker on some parts 

 than on others, as on the back and legs, and, being insensible, it de- 

 fends the true skin from much injury. The scarf skin is separated 

 from the parts beneath in the act of blistering. 



The Mucous Substance is thin, delicate, and soft, resembling in 

 texture fine net-work. It is this that gives colour to the skin in the 

 human subject; but it is precisely of the same hue in all oxen, what- 

 ever be the colour of the hair. It adheres more firmly to the scarf 

 skin than to the true skin, and separates with it, when the hide is 

 prepared by the tanners. 



The I'rue Skin is a thick, dense, and elastic substance, and is that 

 from which leather is made. 



The Hair.— The skin is covered with hair, which is not only an 

 ornament to the beast, but tends to keep the body warm. The hairs 

 arise from bulbous extremities in the skin, and receive their nourish- 

 ment from these roots. The feeling of the skin, and the appearance 

 of the hair, should be carefully observed. A softness and suppleness 

 of the skin, and a kind of glossiness in the coat, not only indicate 

 present health, but a disposition to thrive ; while a hard dry skin, 

 clinging to the ribs, and a coat starin^ in every direction, show that 

 there is^something wrong in the constitution, and that it will be labour 

 in vain to attempfto fatten such a beast. The eyelashes and the hair 

 within the ears seem principally designed to protect those parts from 

 insects, moisture, or cold. The hairs at the end of the tail are longer 

 than those of the rest of the body, in order the better to drive insects 

 away from the skin. 



Immediately under the skin is the feshy panicle, or rhine. It is a 

 thin muscle, extending over the whole of the trunk, and partly down 

 the extremities. It is well supplied with nerves, and capable of very 

 extensive motion; and its chief use is to corrugate the skin for the 

 purpose of shaking off flies, or anything that may annoy the animal. 

 The Fat. — On removing the hide and fleshy panicle, the fat comes 

 into view, which is sometimes in considerable quantity, particularly 

 on the rump, loins, and ribs. There are also layers of it, in beasts 

 in good condition, not only between the muscles, but the fibres of the 

 same muscle, giving a peculiar marbled appearance to the flesh. 



Within the belly the kidneys are chiefly surrounded with it; the 

 omentum, or caul, contains a large quantity of it ; and there is, also, 

 a great deal about the intestines. It guards many parts that would 

 be injured by pressure : it fills up a variety of interstices, and forms 



