40 ^GAGROPIL^. 



was caused by rotation in the cow's stomach or whether it 

 was caused by subsequent handling, is not known. 



Microscopical!}^ the ball shows little other than hair, grains 

 of ground-up mineral matter ^silica, lime salts, etc.), and 

 some little cementing substance. A water solution of this 

 latter responded weakly to the proteid tests, but enough could 

 not be obtained for certain identification without destroying 

 more of the substance of the mass than seemed advisable. 

 Strange to say, the ball has no odor whatever of putrefaction 

 and smells of nothing else than cow's hair. 



The manner of formation of these balls is, of course, only 

 conjectural. Probably a few strands of matted hair, stuck 

 together with mucous or albuminous matter, form a nucleus 

 which grows larger and larger as more and more of the indi- 

 gestible hair is taken into the stomach. The peristaltic 

 motion of the walls of the stomach would keep it in more or 

 less irregular rotation, thus preserving the rounded form. 

 Further, the irritation of the lining of the stomach by the 

 presence of this indigestible mass would produce a catarrhal 

 condition and stimulate the flow of mucus, which would thus 

 keep the ball sticky and ready to catch more hair. 



Despite the large size of the segagropila, it was, as already 

 stated, not this, but the butcher's axe, that caused the death 

 of the animal. The first three stomachs of the cow being 

 more for storage than digestive purposes, its effect was not so 

 great as though the ball had formed in the fourth stomach. 

 It is hardly conceivable, however, that it was not a source 

 of great discomfort to its unfortunate possessor. 



