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moderately thick, mellow, and elastic, moving readily from the points of 
the rump and the hips; the hair thick, soft, and for a cold climate, long 
in winter. 
I am aware that some of the points here laid down conflict with cer¬ 
tain hypothesis which have been lately assumed. For instance, Liebig, 
and others who have followed him, have taught that small chests and 
lungs are most favorable to the fattening tendency. It is scarcely necessary 
to argue a point on which there is almost an universal agreement among 
practical men. It might be shown that Liebig’s notion is not only 
opposed to common observation, but also to sound reasoning, as given 
by various distinguished physiologists. It must suffice, however, to 
quote the language of the celebrated Cline on this subject, to which, 
every person, who has carefully noticed the characteristics of animals, 
will readily assent. 
“The lungs are of the first importance. It is on their size and sound¬ 
ness that the health of an animal principally depends. The power of 
converting food into nourishment, is in proportion to their size. An animal 
with large lungs is capable of converting a given quantity of food into 
more nourishment than one with smaller lungs, and therefore has a 
greater aptitude to fatten.” 
As to capacity of chest, which may be regarded as indicating the size 
of the lungs and heart, it does not depend, as many seem to suppose, 
on the appearance of the brisket, which is merely a fatty substance 
attached to the sternum, or breast-bone. It is sometimes very deep and 
prominent forward, but thin, and gives to persons who are not close 
judges, a fallacious idea in regard to the size of the chest, as well as the 
weight of the animal. This has been a fashionable point, and some 
animals have been favorites on account of possessing it, which were 
really very deficient in substance, and other essential requisites. The 
size of the chest depends more on its rotundity than on its depth, hence 
it is important that the carcass should be broad anteriorly. Here, 
again, cursory observers are frequently deceived. Some animals have 
very large and protuberant shoulder-points, which gives a false appear¬ 
ance of breadth of carcass ; whereas this form, besides indicating a 
large proportion of offal, and a general coarse quality, is frequently 
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