30 THE STOCKFEEDER'S COMPANION 



The albuminoids, after being broken down by the 

 digestive juices into amino-acids and other products, are 

 absorbed by the villi, and then built up again into the 

 complex albuminoids of the animal body. 



According to Professor Henry, the fats previous to 

 absorption are split up into fatty acids and glycerine. 

 These acids combine with the alkalies of the bile to 

 form soap. It appears that immediately after the 

 glycerine and soap have been absorbed by the small 

 intestines, they are reconverted into animal fats. The 

 fats form a milky fluid with the lymph, called " chyle," 

 which is carried into the circulation by the lymphatics. 



The carbohydrates are absorbed chiefly in the form 

 of glucose or similar sugars. They enter the blood and 

 go by way of the portal vein into the liver. The sugar is 

 then mostly removed from the blood, and stored up 

 temporarily as glycogen, which resembles starch in com- 

 position, hence it has been designated animal starch. 



Glycogen is gradually changed back to glucose as 

 and when required. A similar power of storing up 

 sugar is possessed by the muscles of the body. 



The minerals in the food are absorbed chiefly in the 

 small intestines, while water is absorbed in that part of 

 the alimentary canal which lies between the stomach 

 and the large intestine. 



Destiny of Absorbed Nutrients. The absorbed 

 nutrients are carried along in the blood stream, where 

 they may be utilised to maintain the body temperature, 

 supply energy for digestion or work, repair waste of 

 tissue, and, so far as the food is in excess of these 

 requirements, it may be stored up as fat or flesh in the 

 animal body. Before these various functions can be 

 understood it will be necessary to refer to the circulation 

 of the blood. 



