184 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



MONSTROSITY IN THE CALF. 



As a monstrous development in the calf may hinder calving, it is 

 well to consider shortly the different directions in which these devi- 

 ations from the natural form appear. Their origin and significance 

 will be rendered clearer if we divide them according to the fault of 

 development in individual cases. Monsters are such — 



(1) From absence of parts — absence of head, limb, or other organ — ■ 

 arrested development. 



(2) From some organ being unnaturally small, as a dwarfed head, 

 limb, trunk, etc. — arrested development. 



(3) From unnatural division of parts — cleft lips, pahite, head, 

 trunk, limbs, etc. — abnormal growth. 



(4) From the absence of natural divisions — absence of mouth, nose, 

 eye, anus; the cloven foot of ox or pig becomes solid, like that of the 

 horse, etc. — confluence of parts which are rightfully separate. 



(5) From the fusion of parts — both eyes replaced by central one, 

 both nostrils merged into one central opening, etc. — confluence of 

 parts. 



(6) From unnatural position or form of parts — curved nose, neck, 

 back, limbs, etc. — lack of balance in the growth of muscles during 

 development. 



(7) From excessive growth of one or more organs — enormous size 

 of head, double penis, superfluous digits, etc. — redundancy of grow^th 

 at given points. 



(8) From imj^erfect differentiation of the sexual organs — her- 

 majDhordites (organs intermediate between male and female), male 

 organs with certain feminine characters, female organs with certain 

 well-marked male characters. 



(9) From the doubling of parts or of the entire body — double 

 monsters, doubled heads, double bodies, extra limbs, etc. — redundant 

 development. (PI. XIX, figs. 1, 2, 3.) 



Causes. — The causes of monstrosities are varied. Some, like extra 

 digits, lack of horns, etc., run in families, which produce them with 

 absolute certainty when bred in the direct line, although they were 

 originally acquired peculiarities which have merely been fixed by 

 long habit in successive generations. The earliest horse had five toes, 

 and even the most recent fossil horse had three toes, of which the 

 two lateral ones are still represented in the modern horse by the two 

 splint bones. Yet if our horse develops an extra toe it is pronoimced 

 a monstrosity. A more genuine monstrosity is the solid-hoofed pig, 

 in which two toes have been merged into one. Another of the same 

 kind is the solid shank bone of the ox, w^hich consists of two bones 

 united into one, but which are still found apart in the early fetus. 

 Though originally acquired peculiarities, these now breed as in- 

 variably as color or form. 



