27G 
Farming of Oxfordshire. 
in the county, the names of the following gentlemen are subjoined, to whom 
the writer tenders his mo^^t sincere and cordial thanks, not only lor the useful 
information they have imparted, l)ut for the unreserved and courteous manner 
in which it was communicated. The Messrs. Druce, of Eynsham, Mr. Frank- 
lin, of Ascott, Mr. Cother, of Middle Aston, Mr. Savidge, of Sarsden Lodge, 
Mr. Clinch, of Minster Lovell, Mr. Huckvale, of Choice-Ilill, Mr. Hiitt, of 
Water-Eaton, Messrs. Gale and C'hillingworth, of Cuddesden, and Mr. Mark 
Taylor, of Goring, are a few of the many gentlemen who have largely con- 
tributed the materials for this Report. One of the sections of the strata 
is furnished by the kindness of the Rev. A. D. Stacpoole ; and the writer is 
particularly indebted to the Rev. Jas. Clutterbuck for his very valuable geo- 
logical assistance. — February, 1854. 
XI. — On the Teeth of the Ox, Sheep, and Pig, as indicative of the 
Age of the Animal; being the substance of two Lectures delivered 
before the Royal Agricultural Society of England. By James 
Beart Simonds, Professor of Cattle Pathology in the Royal 
Veterinary College. 
In directing the Society's attention to " the formation and struc- 
ture of the teeth, and the means which they afford in the pro- 
gress of their development of ascertaining the age of the Ox, 
Sheep, and Pig," I may first observe that the teeth belong to the 
system of organs termed the digestive. 
This system is an essential part of the organism of every 
animal, no matter how low may be the position assigned to it 
in the scale of animated nature. It is through the digestive 
organs that materials altogether extern to an animal, but contain- 
ing the elements necessary for its support, are made to contribute 
to the maintenance of its life. Hence we have an explanation of 
the fact, that a digestive system, more or less complex, exists 
where we can detect no trace of the organs of either respira- 
tion, circulation, or even sensation. Endowed with that myste- 
rious principle, life, the impress of the great Crkator, the 
monad and the man alike require sustenance for their continuance. 
Mere animal life is a common property bestowed equally on all 
creatures, and therefore dependent on the same laws for its 
existence. 
The invisible world of wonders revealed by the microscope 
discloses hundreds of creatures, of various forms, in a few drops 
of water, going hither and thither in search of their food. Some 
of these Infusoria, as they are called, from the numerous globular 
cells within them supposed to perform the office of digestion, 
have been named Polygastrica (many-stomached). Others, of 
the class, have not only stomachs for the digestion, but organs 
similar to the gizzard of the bird for the reduction, of their food, 
