154 CATTLE. 



brain, under the cerebellum, or little brain, and at the commence- 

 ment of the spinal chord, is a condensation of medullary matter, 

 (the medulla oblongata,) whence proceed the nerves that are con- 

 nected witi the involuntary motions of life, and by which the heart 

 beats, and the lungs play, and the intestines propel the food. In 

 cattle this part is, in proportion t© the size of the animal, of great 

 bulk, for they have to contiibute to the food of man ; and the heart 

 Tnust s-'j-ongly beat, and the stomach and the intestines must be 

 constantly and actively at work, to furnish the requisite quantity of 

 milk v.hen living, and abundance of flesh and fat when slaughtered. 

 The ox, however, is, in a manner, exempt from labor. Even in 

 the districts in which he is employed on the farm or the road, his 

 work is slow. At the termination of this medulla oblongata com- 

 mences the spinal chord, whence proceed all the nerves connected 

 with the voluntary motions of the body. Now, although the medulla 

 oblongata is proportionally larger in the ox than in the horse, for 

 the reason we have just stated, the spinal chord is considerably 

 smaller, because so much muscular power is not needed. 



THE EAR. 



In horned cattle, the ears, often comparatively small, and, from their 

 situation, limited in their motions, and seldom erect, are little regard- 

 ed. The bull has usuallv the shorter horn and the larger ear ; in some 

 breeds, particularly the Kyloe, and the Xyloe bull more especially, it 

 has much to do with the beauty of the head. 



In polled cattle, the ear, of a fair size but not too large, freely 

 movable, and well fringed, corresponds with the beautifully curled 

 forehead, and is a point of some importance. A large ear is general- 

 ly objected to, as indicating coarseness of form, and possibly of fles!^. 

 llie only advantage of a large ear would be, that it might be better 

 able to discliarge one of its functions, to guard the eyes from injury. 

 A person cannot long observe an ox, without admiring the adroit 

 use he makes of his ears for this purpose : but even the weight of 

 the ear would probably interfere with the requisite rapidity of motion. 

 The ear of the ox is furnished with two additional muscles, for this 

 purpose. 



DISEASES OF THE EAR. 



The enrs of cattle are comparatively exempt from disease. The 

 passage into the ear is tortuous and guarded with hair. The irreg- 

 ularities of the conch are large and abrupt. 'J'he inoonveniences 

 which arise from the introduction of insects into the ear seldom oc- 

 cur. To contusions these organs are much exposed, producing swell- 

 ing abscess, and deafness. Fomentations will aflbrd the principal 

 means of relief or cure, with occasional washing out of the ear with 



