234 OUTLINES OF EQUINE ANATOMY. 



villi may be seen covering tlie space enclosed by the 

 corona. 



The large intestine consists of three portions : ccemim, 

 colon, and rectum. The ileum terminates at a peculiarly 

 arched portion of intestine, the ccecuni caput coli, at its 

 lesser curvature, anteriorly is the commencement of the 

 double colon. The caecum, a plicated portion of in- 

 testine, presents a base situated in the right lumbar and 

 right iliac regions, from which it extends in a direction 

 forwards and to the left, through the umbilical region along 

 the floor of the abdomen, to terminate in the apex in the 

 left hypochondriac region. Its plicae are due to the collec- 

 tion of its longitudinal muscular fibres into three bands at 

 the apex, while subsequently a fourth appears. This 

 viscus is capable of containing about four gallons of fluid, 

 and is supposed to be the destination of the huge draughts 

 of water sometimes consumed by horses, which rushes 

 directly through the stomach hither ; and since it is apt to 

 carry with it any undigested matters, we learn from this 

 the rule found valuable in practice — "to water before 

 feeding." 



The colon is divided into two portions — double and 

 single; for after proceeding a certain distance the bowel 

 bends backwards and returns on the same course, becoming 

 attached to the diverging portion by the meso-colon, and 

 in some parts closely in contact with it. The posterior 

 part of the colon, however, runs a single course, being 

 situated at the free margin of the mesorectum, and like 

 the free portion of the small intestine having no regular 

 situation. It takes the following course : — Commencing at 

 the right lumbar region with two muscular bands, it runs 

 in a forward direction from the caecum caput coli into the 

 right hypochondriac region, where it obtains a third, and 

 subsequently a fourth longitudinal band ; passing over to 

 the left, above the ensiform cartilage, it gains the left 

 hypochondrium, and, in running from this backwards, 

 grows gradually smaller in calibre as it passes through the 

 left lumbar into the left iliac region. Its bands also 

 decrease in number, so that when it makes its sigmoid 

 flexure in the left iliac region it has but one, and that is 

 on the attached margin. The bowel is here very small, 

 though not so small as at its commencement, and in pass- 

 ing forwards through the left lumbar and left hypochon- 



