388 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE AGE OF THE OX. 
Far from me be the thought that such rules relating thereto as 
have already been laid down by learned and practical men are 
incorrect. On the contrary, I shall be one of the first to render 
homage to their labours and researches, their observations, and the 
practical value of their written precepts. But, for the very reason 
that these precepts derive great weight and importance from the 
names of those who penned them, is it the more imperative on me 
to expose any errors that might be committed at the present day, 
and most especially as regards oxen and sheep, through the in- 
discriminate application of them to animals, of whatever breed, in 
whatever condition, state of growth, &c. they may be. For this 
reason, I have thought it useful to draw the attention of veteri- 
narians to the subject, and at the same time provoke their ob- 
servations on it, by publishing the two following letters : — the one, 
by the manner in which it puts the question, as well as by point- 
ing out the circumstance that gave rise to it, shewing the neces- 
sity that exists for inquiry ; the other, by the nature of the facts 
it discloses, being probably designed to prepare the solution of it. 
Here are the letters : — 
Saint Omer, 25th Aug. 1846. 
The Secretary of the Agricultural Society of the district of 
St. Omer to the Director of the Royal Veterinary College of 
Alfort. 
“M. Director, — A bull of the Durham breed, named Antinous, 
purchased on the 15th of April, 1846, at the dairy of the Royal 
Stud at Pin, on the account of the department of the Pas-de- 
Calais, by M. Leon D’Herlincourt, member of the Council General, 
was sent from Arras to St. Omer, at the beginning of June, to be 
sold there at the public auction. 
On the 6th of the said month (June) the animal was presented 
for adjudication at the court of the sub-prefecture, in the presence 
of a great number of farmers, who were all eager to do justice to 
his fine shape, combined with a coat (bay) to which they gave a 
decided preference; at the same time that they all refused to 
award the prize to ANTINOUS, because the conditions specified 
that the candidate should be but two years of age, whereas, from 
the inspection of his teeth, he was four years old and upwards. 
Several veterinarians, former pupils of Alfort, came and cor- 
roborated this opinion, declaring that the bull possessed all the 
teeth of an adult — all his permanent teeth. 
The consequence of such unanimity of opinion was, that it was 
deemed impossible to come to any adjudication; and the more so, 
because in the district of St. Omer, according to the practice of 
