MILK OF THE MARE. 49 



from the bone, and forming what is called a flat 

 and wiry leg, is most desirable, and found to be 

 indicative, not only of speed and endurance, but 

 likewise of soundness in severe work. It is only 

 those who are ignorant of the anatomical structure 

 of animals that fix the basis of strength in the bony 

 substances alone, not considering the muscular 

 appendages, which constitute the mainspring of 

 strength and action. 



As the stronojest bodies owe their viojour to the 

 milk they receive in their infancy, our recommen- 

 dation to keep brood mares well will not be con- 

 sidered as unsuitable ; but the connexion between 

 milk and bone is also deserving of a remark. When 

 animal bones are divested of their oil and jelly, the 

 earth which remains is chiefly lime, united with 

 phosphoric acid. It is worthy of notice, that phos- 

 phate of lime is found in abundance in milk. This 

 seems to indicate, that Nature thought fit to place, 

 in the first nourishment of animals, a quantity of 

 osseous matter, with a view to the necessary cele- 

 rity of the formation and growth of the bones in 

 the earliest stage of their lives. This is one of the 

 numerous instances of the beneficence of the Creator, 

 exemplified by the science of chemistry, and shows 

 the advantages to be expected from a good flow of 

 milk in a mare that is well fed ; and it is a re- 

 markable fact, that the nearer the female approaches 

 to the period of parturition, the more is the milk 

 charged with this calcareous phosphate. Nor is it 

 until the digestive organs of the food are sufiicient- 



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