120 Cattle Problems. 



the digestive power to supply such demand, are each di- 

 minished in the degree that activity is rechiced, while the 

 quantity of vitalized blood is certainly diminished accord- 

 ing to the reduced size and activity of the lungs ; 

 breathing necessarily corresponding with any reductions in 

 exercise. 



In addition to forestated causes of a reduced quantity of 

 blood in circulation, and the reduced vital quality in that 

 reduced quantity, the encroaching and obstructive influ- 

 ence of fat amongst the tissues is manifestly a great imped- 

 iment to a full and free circulation, and to strong breeding 

 power ; as a full and free circulation requires full, unob- 

 structed space. 



In active muscular animals, as in horses and active cat- 

 tle, the circulation is not crowded or obstructed by en- 

 croaching quantities of fat. This exemption from obstruct- 

 ing fat is the reason why lean dogs, lean horses, and lean 

 working bulls, are sure in breeding ; their blood is full in 

 quantity, because they are active, and there is full space 

 for the circulation to freely fill and occupy ; their blood 

 being also vital in quality from their greater activity, and 

 the greater extent of their breathing. In a barrel full of 

 beef and brine, the quantity of brine cannot be increased 

 without reducing the quantity of beef. In cattle, the quan- 

 tity of fat cannot be increased without reducing the quan- 

 tity of muscle, and also the size and power of the muscu- 

 lar organs and the quantity of blood in circulation. 



The reduced quantity of the red blood is also impaired 

 in vital quality, by the retention of carbonic acid and other 

 excretory poisons, which accumulate in the blood from re- 

 duced or prohibited activity, and reduced breathing; the 

 vital secretions of primary breeding in both sexes — which 

 necessarily depend closely on the vital quality of the 

 blood — being necessarily diminished, both by reduced 



