THE STOMACH. 222 



properly commences. The mouths of numerous little vessels open upon it, pouring 

 nut a peculiar fluid, the gastric (stomach) juice, which mixes with the food already 

 toftened, and converts it into a fluid called chyme. As this is formed, it passes out 

 of the other orifice of the stomach, the pylorus (doorkeepers),/, and enters the first 

 small intestine ; the harder and undissolved parts being turned back to undergo farther 

 action. 



Every portion of the muscular coat has the power of successively contracting and 

 relaxing, and thus, in the language of Dr. Bostock, " the successive contraction of 

 each part of the stomach, by producing a series of folds and wrinkles, serves to agitate 

 the alimentary mass, and, by bringing every part of it in its turn to the surface, to 

 expose it to the influence of the gastric juice, while at the same time the whole of the 

 contents are gradually propelled forwards, from the orifice which is connected with 

 the oesophagus to that by which they are discharged." 



The cerebro-visceral nerve is the agent in producing these alternate contractions 

 and relaxations. It is the motor nerve belonging to these parts. It has to keep the 

 parietes of the stomach in contact with the food, and the food in contact with the 

 gastric juice. It has to bring the different parts of the food in successive contact with 

 the stomach, and to propel them through this portion of the alimentary canal in ordei 

 that they may be discharged into the duodenum. 



A viscus thus situated and thus employed must occasionally be subject to inflam 

 mation, and various other lesions. The symptoms, however, are obscure and fre- 

 quently mistaken. They resemble those of colic more than anything else, and should 

 be met by bleeding, oleaginous purges, mashes, tepid gruel, and the application of 

 the stomach-pump : but when, in addition to the colicky pains, there appear indistinct- 

 ness of the pulse and a very characteristic symptom that is pallidness of the mem- 

 branes, coldness of the mouth, frequent lying down, and in such position that the 

 weight of the horse may rest on the chest, frequently pointing with his muzzle at the 

 seat of pain, and, especially, if these symptoms are accompanied or followed by vomit- 

 ng, rupture of the stomach is plainly indicated. Considering the situation of the 

 stomach, and the concussions and violence to which it is exposed from the diaphragm 

 and from the viscera around it, this accident will not appear extraordinary. The horse 

 does not necessarily die as soon as this accident occurs. In a case related by Mr. 

 Rogers, the animal died in about four hours after the accident;* but in one that 

 occurred in the practice of the author, three days elapsed between the probable rupture 

 of the stomach, from a sudden and violent fall, and the death of the animal, and in 

 which interval he several times ate a little food. The rupture was at the right extre- 

 mity of the stomach, and there were several distinct layers of impacted food between 

 it and the liver. The liver seemed to have acted as a kind of valve. The stomach was 

 found still distended, the edges of the rupture httving the dull and sodden appearance 

 of an old wound. There was comparatively little fluid in the abdominal cavity, and 

 no disposition to vomit occurred during any period. f 



A case showing the insensibility of the stomach, wisely and kindly given, con- 

 sidering the shocks and dangers to which this viscus is exposed, is recorded by Mr. 

 Hayes. A drench was ordered for a horse. For want of a horn, the stable-keeper 

 made use of a wine-bottle, without examining whether it was clean or foul. Shortly 

 afterwards it was discovered that the bottle had contained three or four ounces of 

 liquid blister. This was kept a profound secret until the death of the animal, and 

 that did not happen until twelve days afterwards. The horse had eaten his provender 

 in the same manner as usual, and had performed his usual work until about two hours 

 before his death, when he lay down, rolled about, bruised himself sadly, and died. 

 The food, consisting of hay, oats, and beans, was lodged and impacted between the 

 folds of the intestines, and the whole abdominal viscera appeared as if they had been 

 thus surrounded a considerable time before death. The stomach was ruptured in 

 many directions, and almost decomp "pd. Its coats were nearly destroyed, and hung 

 like rags about the orifice through wriich the food was received, and that through 

 which it naturally was expelled. This account proves how little we are to depend 

 apon any apparent symptoms as indicating the real state of the stomach in the horse. 



Mr. Brown relates a case of polypus found in the stomach, and which had remained 



* The Farrier; and Naturalist, vol. ii., p. 9. 



* The Veterinary Medical Association 1836-7, p. 109 c The Vete-marian, vol.x. p 615 



