From this table it appears that, in the carcass, the proportion of fat is, in general, even in lean animals, much greater than that of nitrogenous compounds. In one case only, that of the fat calf, are they equal. But in the lean sheep there is more than one and a half times as much fat as nitrogenous matters, in the half fat sheep twice, in the fat sheep four times, and in the very fat sheep about six times as much. As a general result of the analyses it may be stated, that in the carcass of an ox in good condition, the quantity of fat will be from two to nearly three times as great as that of the so called albuminous compounds; in a sheep three or four times, and in the pig four or five times as great. In the offal, including the hide, intestines, and other parts not usually consumed as food, the proportion is very different,--the quantity of fat being much smaller, and that of nitrogenous compounds considerably larger. Taking a general average of the whole, the following may be assumed as representing approximately the general composition of a lean and a fat animal:-- Lean. Fat. Mineral matters 5 3 Nitrogenous compounds 15 12.5 Fat 24 33 Water 56 48.5 --- ----- 100 100.0 The data given in the preceding table, coupled with a knowledge of the relative weights of the lean and fat animals, enable us to ascertain the composition of the _increase_ during the fattening process. It is obvious, from the material diminution of the per centage of water, that the matters deposited in the tissues must contain a much larger proportion of dry matters than the whole body; and the reduced per centage of nitrogenous matters shews that the fat must also greatly preponderate. This is still more distinctly illustrated by the following table, giving the per centage composition of the increase in fattening oxen, sheep, and pigs:-- ------------------------------------------------ | Mineral | Nitrogenous | Fat. | Water. | | Matters. | Compounds. | | | ------------------------------------------------ Oxen | 1.47 | 7.69 | 66.2 | 24.6 | Sheep | 2.34 | 7.13 | 70.4 | 20.1 | Pigs | 0.06 | 6.44 | 71.5 | 22.0 | ------------------------------------------------ Hence it may be stated in round numbers, that for every pound of nitrogenous matters added to the weight of a fattening animal, it will gain ten pounds of fat, and three of water. These are the proportions over the whole period of fattening, but it is probable that during the last few weeks of the process the ratio of fat to nitrogenous matters is still higher.