CHAPTER VI. 



ANATOMY OF THE STOMACH. 



THE most interesting and important anatomi- 

 cal peculiarity of the camel is that curious struc- 

 ture by which he is enabled to take in at once, 

 and by a special arrangement retain, a sufficient 

 quantity of water to supply the wants of the 

 animal economy for several days. It was con- 

 jectured by Cuvier, and it is believed by some 

 more recent naturalists, that the stomach of the 

 camel is not only able to retain for many days 

 water swallowed by the animal, but that it pos- 

 sesses the further power of secreting a special 

 fluid for moistening the fauces and viscera, and 

 mingling with the food in rumination, in some 

 such way as some fish are able to keep the skin 

 moist for some time after they are taken from 

 the water, by the exudation of a fluid secreted 

 for that purpose. It is even said that the fluid 

 found in the water- sac, after the death of the 

 camel, possesses chemical properties which prove 

 it to be an animal secretion ; bift it does not ap- 



