138 EVERY MAN HIS OWN FARRIER 



down to ruminate, or, as it is termed, to chew the cud 

 at their ease. To render this process easily to be un- 

 derstood, we shall briefly describe the four several sto- 

 machs. 



The first stomach, called the ru7nen, or paunch, is 

 a very large receptacle for the food, where it is re- 

 tained until the animal ruminates. There is a place 

 in the paunch contiguous to where it joins the second 

 stomach, which seems to act as a valve, and prevent 

 the escape of air during the maceration of food in it. 

 It is to this stomach that the food passes on being first 

 swallowed by the cow. 



The second stomach, called the honey-comb^ or bon- 

 net, is much smaller than the paunch, and in its in- 

 ternal structure resembles that of the honey-comb ; 

 from whence it takes its name, It is situated rather 

 to the right side of the gullet, near to the midriff, or 

 skirt, and on the upper and fore part of the paunch. 

 The honey-comb is internally covered with a sort of 

 net-work, which seems to act as a grate or strainer to 

 keep back any hard or foreign bodies that may have 

 been swallowed ; pins, nails, and bits of wood and 

 stick, having been found therein, entangled in the 

 grate-like entrapment. This stomach seems designed 

 as a receptacle for the more fluid parts of the food, as 

 well as to moisten and press on the ruminated morsel 

 in its progress to the third stomach. 



The third stomach, termed many plies ^ ox manifolds^ 

 is situated on the upper and right side of the paunch, 

 and is generally found filled with food. It then ap- 

 proaches in shape to the globular form ; but after a 

 fast of twenty-four hours, or more, bears more resem- 

 blance to that of a. kidney. This part of the system 

 mav be considered as a strong muscular bag, supplied 

 internally with numerous leaves, from whence it de- 



