THE STOMACH. 



199 



rhjre are numerous glands on it, which pour out a mucous fluid; and it 

 is, probably, intended to be a reservoir, in which a portion of the food is 

 retained for a while, and softened, and better prepared for the action of the 

 other or true digestive portion of the stomach. The cuticular coat occupies 

 nearly one-half of the inside of the stomach. 



The fourth coat is the mucous or villous (velvet) coat, e, where the work 

 of digestion properly commences. The mouths of numerous little vessels 

 open upon it, pouring out a peculiar fluid, the gastric (stomach) juice, 

 which mixes with the food already softened, and converts it into a fluid, 

 called chyme. As this is formed, it passes out of the other orifice of the 

 stomacii, the pyloric, (a door to guard,) f, and enters the first small intes- 

 tine ; the harder and undissolved parts being turned back, to undergo 

 further action. 



CUT OF THE STOMACH. 



« The esophag-us or g-ullet, extending' to the stomach. 



b The entrance of the g-ullet into the stomach. The circular layers of the muscles arc 

 very thick and strong, and which, by their contractions, help to render it difBcu)' 

 for the food to be returned or vomited. 



c The portion of the stomach which is covered by cuticle or insensible skin. 



ddThe margin which separates the cuticular from the villous portion. 



ee The mucous or villous (velvet) portion of the stomach, in which the food is princi- 

 pally digested. 



/ The communication between the stomach and the first intestine. 



g The common orifice through which the bile and the secretion from tne pancreas pasa 

 into the first intestine. The two pins mark the two tubes here united. 



k A smaller orifice, through which a portion of the secretion of the pancreas enters 

 the intestines. 



The stomach of the horse being small, this wonderful change which is 

 effected in the food, and the nature of which has never been thoroughly 

 understood, proceeds very rapidly. The horse, in a short time, will cat a 

 great deal more than the stomach will hold, and room can only be made 

 for the reception of the fresh food by that which had been previously 

 received being discharged through the pyloric orifice. 



Of one disease of the stomach, arising from over-distension, stomach- 

 staggers, we have already spoken. In a few instances, the stomacii ha* 



