394 FUNDAMENTALS OF AGRICULTURE. 



ulum). Then, by a special arrangement of the parts, 

 it is forced back into the oesophagus and into the mouth 

 for final preparation by the teeth and the saliva. When 

 swallowed a second time, the mouthful of food passes 

 into the third compartment (omasum or manyplies), 

 and on to the fourth (abomasum or true digestive com- 

 partment) for final stomachal digestion. 



STOMACH OF THE OX. 



A, rumen, left hemisphere; B, rumen, right hemisphere; C, termination of oesophagus; 

 D, reticulum; E, omasum; F, abomasum. After Fleming. 



4. Chymification or stomachal digestion. This step 

 refers to the food materials being converted into chyme, 

 which is the liquid, or semi-liquid, mass into which the 

 food in the stomach is changed by the action of the 

 gastric juice, aided by the churning motion produced 

 by the muscular wall of that organ. When in the 

 stomach the food is not only rendered more liquid or 



