EVEN-TOED UNGULATES (aRTIODACTYLA) 243 



down by the molar teeth and mixed with saliva, nntil 

 a soft pulpy mass is formed, which, when swallowed, 

 finds its way into the third division of the stomach, 

 known as the psalterium or manyplies from the fold- 

 ing of its membranous lining*. Thence the food 

 passes into the abomasum or rennet stomach, where 

 digestion takes place. The digestive system is in 

 every particular, both as to the form of its organs and 

 its chemistry, specially adapted to the absorption 

 of nutriment from vegetable food. The powerful 

 teeth grind down and break the hard cellulose 

 envelopes in which the nutritive elements of 

 vegetables are enclosed. The stomach is large in 

 proportion to the bulk of food required, and the 

 small intestine is extremely long, being in the ox 

 twenty-two times the length of its body. The cat, 

 on the other hand, which is a flesh feeder, has a 

 fr'iugle-chambered stomach, a large oesophagus, and 

 a relatively short small intestine. Further, the 

 gastric juices secreted b}^ the cat are suitable for 

 promoting the rapid digestion of flesh. 



Thus we see that, both by their mechanism and 

 their chemistry, the digestive systems of oxen, sheep 

 and goats are admirably adapted for the transforma- 

 tion of the grass of the field into suitable food for 

 man. Much as we may revolt from the slaughter of 

 animals, we have to deal with the digestive system 

 with which Nature has endowed us, and the human 

 digestive apparatus undeniably demands a mixed 

 diet, consisting mainly, though not entirely, of flesh, 

 whereas a dog's or cat's digestive system is only 

 able to deal satisfactorily with flesh food. 



