Chap. 31 ] Digeftion 'of Fijhes. 321 



during the time that the chyle was flowing through 

 the lacteals, he collected from each as much chyle 

 as he was able. On examination they were found fo 

 fimilar, that the difference could not be diftinguifhed 

 by any experiment which he could contrive. The 

 chyle of a cat living on fielh, according to the fame 

 gentleman, cannot be diftinguifhed from that of an 

 ox or flieep. 



Live or frelh vegetables, when taken into the fto- 

 mach, are firft killed, by which a flabbinefs of tex- 

 ture is produced, as if they had been boiled, and then 

 they begin to be acted on by the gaftric juice. This 

 fluid, indeed, Teems to have no power to act on 

 living matter, fince worms remain uninjured in the 

 ftomach. Digeftion, however, as far as relates to the 

 diffolution of aliment, may be carried on out of the 

 body by means of the gaftric juice, and the applica- 

 tion of heat equal to that of the human body. This 

 procefs is continued for fome time after death, and the 

 ftomach, no longer protected by the living principle, 

 is itfelf partially diflblved by the gaftric juice. 



In the ftomachs of large fifh are commonly found 

 fmall fillies, ftill retaining their natural form but 

 when touched, they melt down into a jelly. From 

 thrs circumftance, and from the great quantity of 

 fluids poured into their ftomachs, we may conclude, 

 that digeftion is folely effected in them by the dif- 

 folving power of a menftruum, without the aid of 

 trituradon. 



Neither animal nor vegetable fubftances can undergo 

 their fpontaneous changes, while digeftion is going on 

 in them. The gaftric juice even has a power of 

 recovering meat already putrid ; for let putrid meat 

 be given to a dog, and the contents of his ftomach 

 will be found fweet, and free from all putrefaction, 



VOL. III. Y if 



