594 FUNCTIONS OF ANIMALS. 



the age of seven, and had continued at it for twenty yeara 

 His stomach was so much distended that he could swallow many 

 stones at once. They could not only be felt in his stomach, but 

 when he struck the hypogastric region of the abdomen they might 

 by the bystanders be heard to rattle. Dr Stevens inclosed in 

 silver perforated spheres 2J inches long, and 3 inches in circum- 

 ference, various kinds of food. The spheres were evacuated 

 about twenty hours after being swallowed, and it was in Dr 

 Stevens's power to ascertain what change the food had undergone. 

 A few of the experiments will enable the reader to judge of the 

 results. 41 scruples of raw beef lost 1^ scruple of their weight. 



The silver sphere was divided into two compartments. Into 

 the one was put 1 scruple 4 grains of raw beef, and into the 

 other 4 scruples 8 grains of boiled beef. The sphere was voided 

 in forty-three hours. The raw beef had lost 1 scruple 2 grains 

 of its weight; the boiled beef 1 scruple and 16 grains. 



Silver spheres were now employed, the numerous perforations 

 in which were of the size of a crow quill. The following were the 

 experiments made : 



Substances introduced. J*?** ^ ti e Result. 



before voided. 



Beef slightly masticatedj 38 hours. All dissolved. 



Raw pork, . 45 . Ditto. 



A piece of cheese, . 45 . Ditto. 



Roast pheasant, . 46 . Ditto. 



Salt herring, 46 . Ditto. 



Raw parsnep, 48 . Ditto. 



Raw potato, 48 Ditto. 



Raw turnip, ; '. ''.'** 36 . Ditto. 



Boiled turnip, v 36 . Ditto. 



Apple, raw, ; 7 ' V :> 36 . Ditto. 



Do. boiled, ;'.' -.\ 36 . Ditto. 



Grains of rye, Many hours. Not altered. 



wheat, V Do. . Ditto. 



barley, . Do. . Ditto. 



oats, Do. . Ditto. 



Peas, . . . Do. . Ditto. 



Thigh-bone of sheep, . 48 . Ditto. 



Wing of pheasant, . 48 J A11 ^f J^" 



Living leech, . . ... . All dissolved. 



Living lumbricus, ... . Ditto. 



