and of their Increase icliilst Fattening. 
459 
than compensate for the decrease in tliat of the other solid mat- 
ters. The result is, that there is an increase in the percentage 
of total dry substance. 
In the carcasses of the leaner animals there were from 54 to G2 
per cent, of water ; namely, in that of the calf of the store 
sheep 57^', of the store pig 553-, and of the half-fat ox 54 per cent. 
The carcasses of all the other animals contained less than 50 per 
cent, and those of the fattest less than 40 per cent., of water. 
That of the moderately-fattened ox contained 45J, of the fat 
lamb 48|, of the half-fat sheep 49|, of the fat sheep 39|, and of 
die very fat sheep only 33, per cent, of water. Lastly, in the 
carcass of the moderately-fattened pig there were 38^^ per cent, 
of water. Between the condition in which these particular car- 
casses were taken for analysis and that in which the meat would 
be sold by the butcher, from 1 to 2 per cent., or perhaps more, of 
water would be lost by evaporation. 
The bones contain a higher percentage of dry matter than the 
collective soft parts. The proportion of bone is the highest in 
oxen, less in sheep, and still less in pigs. It is, too, the less the 
fatter the animal. The percentage of dry matter in the bone 
increases as the animal matures. 
From the whole of the data adduced on the point, it may 
perhaps be safely concluded that the average of well-fattened 
carcaiss-hecf will contain 50 per cent., or rather more, of dry 
substance ; that of properly-fattened mutton rather more than 
beef — say 55 to 60 per cent. ; that of pigs killed for fresh pork 
rather more than sheep ; and the sides of pigs killed for curing 
still more. Lamb carcasses appear to contain a smaller propor- 
tion of dry substance than either moderately-fattened beef, mutton, 
or pork. But, of all, the carcass of the calf contains the least 
proportion of dry substance ; and, at the same time, its proportion 
of bone is higher than in that of any other of the animals. 
Such, then, is the composition of the cai'cass, or that part of 
the animal which it is the object of the feeder to develop as much 
as possible. 
Composition of the Offal. 
Upon the composition of the collective offal parts very few 
comments on the records given in the Table need be made. 
The percentage of mineral matter, mainly dependent on the 
proportion of bone, is generally less in the collective offal than in 
the collective carcass parts. It is, too, in the former less than the 
figures in the Table indicate ; for these include a quantity of 
adventitious dirt, which it was impossible to remove from the 
hair of the oxen, but more particularly from the wool of the sheep, 
and especially from that of the extra-fat one. 
VOL, XXI. 2 I 
