88 



PHYSIOLOGY AT THE FAEM. 



the mouth, while in the ox it passes by the lower edge of the 

 masseter, and then pierces the buccinator to open between the 



HEAD OF AN Ox. 



o, Parotid duct; 6, its opening into the mouth ; c, entrance of the sub- 

 maxillary ducts ; d, parotid gland ; e, sublingual glands. 



second and third upper molar teeth. The duct of the inferior 

 maxillary, which is termed Wharton's duct, opens near the 

 frenum of the tongue. 



Saliva. The saliva of the ox does not appear to have been 

 particularly examined ; but there is every reason to believe that 

 it conforms to what has been observed in regard to the saliva 

 of the horse. As already noticed, the parotid saliva is limpid 

 and colourless, devoid of smell and taste, incapable of being 

 drawn into threads, and of a distinctly alkaline reaction. The 

 sulphocyanide of potassium appears to be a general constituent 

 in the saliva of the higher animals. The power of converting 

 starch into sugar seems also to be a general property of saliva. 

 In this transmutation ptyalin, the peculiar organic constituent 

 of saliva, is concerned. As before stated, a portion of a salivary 



