CHAPTER VI. 



ANIMAL NUTRITION. 



The Constituents of the Animal Body. — Water, albuminoids, gelatinoids, 

 horny matter, fat, and ash constituents — Com})osition of animals in 

 various stages of growth and fattening — Proportion of carcase — Com- 

 position of increase whilst fattening. 27ie Processes of Nutrition. — 

 The constituents of food, and their particular functions in the body — 

 Digestion — Respiration — Excretion. 



In order to understand the mode in which animals are 

 nourished we must first obtain some acquaintance with 

 the nature of the animal body, and understand the com- 

 position of the increase which takes place during growth 

 and fattening. 



The Constituents of Animals. — The elements com- 

 posing the animal frame are the ten already named as 

 forming the essential constituents of plants (page 2), 

 with sodium and chlorine in addition. The two last 

 named elements are commonly present in the succulent 

 parts of plants, but are apparently not essential to plant 

 life — in the animal frame they are, however, indispensable. 

 Pluorine and silicon are also always found in the animal 

 body, but are not known to be essential for life or growth ; 

 fluorine occurs in small quantities in the teeth and bones, 

 and silicon in hair, wool, and feathers. 



