2 Veterinary Medichie. 



Omnivora occupy a place intermediate between these two 

 classes, as regards both the nature of the food and the extent of 

 surface of the alimentary canal, and they are in similar ratio little 

 liable to digestive disorders. They have besides in common with 

 carnivora a great facility in the rejection of irritant matters by 

 vomiting, and in thus protecting themselves against gastric and 

 intestinal disorders. 



A fair idea of the area of the intestinal surface may be given by 

 stating the length of the canal relatively to that of the body : — in the 

 dog : : 6 : I, in the rabbit : : lo : i, in the ass and mule : : ii : i, 

 in the horse : : 12 : i, in swine : : 14 : i, in the ox : : 20 : r, and 

 in the sheep : : 27 : i. The calibre of the intestine varies how- 

 ever and with it the capacity. Thus in the relatively shorter in- 

 testine of the horse, the capacity is much greater in ratio with 

 the size of the animal than is the relatively much longer intestine 

 of the pig. The ox's intestine though twice the length of that 

 of the horse has little more than half the capacity. 



Among herbivora the monogastric (horse, ass, mule), and 

 polygastric (ruminants) animals manifest varying pathological 

 susceptibility according to the relative development of the differ- 

 ent digestive viscera and the habitual character of their food. 

 The horse and other large .solipeds have small stomachs (16 qts.) 

 and capacious intestines (196 qts. ). Digestion is restricted in the 

 stomach and largely carried on in the spacious bowels. The 

 small stomach requires to be frequently replenished in moderate 

 amount, but, if this is secured, its liability to disease is slight 

 while that of the intestines is very considerable. In the ox the 

 stomachs have a total capacity of 252 qts., while that of the 

 intestines averages 103 qts. In this animal the capacious and 

 hard working stomach is a frequent seat of disorder, while the 

 comparatively small intestines are to a large extent exempt. The 

 small stomach of the horse is easily overloaded and disordered or 

 paralyzed by an unusually full feed of grain when hungry, or 

 one of some specially appetizing fodder, and the case is serious, 

 as relief can rareh' be obtained by vomiting. For the same 

 reason fermentation of the gastric contents with evolution of gas 

 and tympany usually proves fatal to the horse since relief by 

 eructation is too often impossible. Cattle are fitted to live in 

 damp localities where the cloven foot prevents sinking and get- 



