324 THr ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



starchy matters into sugar, thus rendering this aliment 

 (which is presented in a state of a nature quite insoluble at 

 the heat of the stomach) not only soluble, but nutritious. 

 This ensalrvation takes place while the food is being masti- 

 cated ; when in the stomach (fig. 90) it meets with the 



FIG. 90. IIU.MAX STOMACH. 



"gastric juice," a fluid capable of dissolving both fibrine 

 and albumen (the two other chief aliments), even when 

 coagulated ; thus all kinds of food when they have been a 

 short time in the stomach are reduced to a liquid, and so 

 far fitted to enter the system. The stomach is a mem- 

 braneous bag, communicating at the upper orifice with the 

 mouth, and at the lower with the intestines ; its internal 

 (mucous) coat is smooth, and contains many absorbents ; 

 its outer coat is muscular, and capable of contraction, so as 

 to roll together its contents, thus bringing every portion 

 into contact with the gastric juice ; this mass of dissolved 

 food has received the name of " chyme." By admixture 

 with the bile (a fluid excreted by the ; liver) and other 

 juices, it separates (like curds and whey) into a liquid and 

 partially solid matter ; the liquid part is like milk, and is 

 called " chyle," and it is taken up by absorbent vessels, by 

 " endosmose," a peculiar power w.iich membranes have of 



