The poorness of the pasture had, in his opinion, occasioned the degradation of their cattle, which degenerated sensibly from me generation to another.

在他看来，贫瘠的牧场导致了他们家牛的退化，从我这一代到另一代，它们的退化明显。

If you lie in bed all day without moving your body, your bones, your muscles will eventually degenerate to the point where you'll no longer be able to use them.

如果你整天躺在床上不活动身体，你的骨骼和肌肉最终会退化到不能再使用的程度。