SOME OE THE ANIMALS EED AND SLAUGHTEEED AS HUMAN FOOD. 505 
Looking first to the percentage of mineral matter, obtained by incineration, in the 
so-called Carcass, it is seen, as was to be expected, that the hones yielded by far the 
larger portion of it. The total soft parts, indeed, in most cases, provided only about 
one-fifth to one-seventh as much mineral matter as the solid framework of bones. The 
proportion of the whole mineral matter which was obtained from the soft parts, was, 
as well with bullocks, sheep, and pigs, the less the more matured the animal— that is, 
the fatter; and it was much the greater in the lean condition. Thus, in the store 
or lean sheep, and also in the store pig, the soft parts of the Carcass yielded some- 
what more than a thu’d as much ash as the bones. On the other hand, in the fattest 
sheep there was less than one-seventh, and in the fat pig only a fourth as much mineral 
matter derivable from the soft parts as from the bones. That is to say, it is with the 
nitrogenous matters of the soft parts, that the constituents yielding ash on incineration 
are shown to be associated. In what chemical relation the several ash-constituents stand 
to these nitrogenous matters, it is not within the scope of the present inquiry to deter- 
mine. But, it is probable, that at any rate some of them (for example, the sulphuric, 
and perhaps the phosphoric acid also) are, in a greater or less degree, products of the 
incineration. This remark may apply to the ashes of other parts also. To what extent 
there may be a loss of certain mmeral constituents, when, as is usually the case, it is 
sought to collect the whole by the process of incineration, depends in part on the 
mineral composition of the substance, but also on the conduct of the incineration itself. 
The ashes here in question were, however, prepared “with great care, and at as low a 
temperature as possible, so as at least to avoid all unnecessary source of loss. It seemed 
deshable to call attention to these points, that in assuming, as is usually done, that the 
total mineral matter of animal and vegetable products is represented by the amount of 
ash they leave on burning, no more of exactitude should be attributed to the assumption 
than is really due. 
To proceed : in Table II. the total ash of the Offal parts is divided into — that of the 
soft parts exclusive of hair or w’ool, that of the bones, and that of the hair or wool. On 
the amount of ash indicated in the hair or wool, no great stress must be laid ; for, as will 
be easily understood, it was almost impossible to free these parts from adventitious dirt, 
which would leave a considerable incombustible residue. As in the Carcass, so in the 
Offal (which included the head, feet, and tail), by far the larger proportion of the ash 
v/as due to the bones. The portion of the total percentage of ash in the Offal due to 
the soft parts, is generally as great as m the Carcass. A part is doubtless attributable 
to debris of the food not entirely removed by washing from the alimentary cavities and 
passages. The blood too yielded a not inconsiderable quantity ; and this portion may 
be looked upon as not belonging to the fixed substance of the body, or to those portions 
of the Offal which are, as the rule, appropriated as human food. The blood of the Pig 
IS, however, frequently appropriated to this purpose. After making some allowance on 
these heads, there is still, at least in the fattened animals, about as high a percentage 
of mineral matter in the collective soft parts of the Offal, as in those of the Carcass. It 
