IMPROVED. 43 



the Blood- Veffels become diilended and full, info- 

 much that what is over and above fufRcient for a 

 Horfe's juft Nourifhment, cannot be carried off by 

 the proper Out-lets ; that is to fay, the Canals or 

 Pores of the Extremities are not wide enough to 

 admit fo much grofs Matter as is feparated by the 

 Glands of the Inteitines or Guts ; and confequently 

 the Dirtention of the Vefiels will be more and more- 

 increafed : And here it may not be thought amifs 

 to fhew, as briefly as may be, how Animal Digef- 

 tion is performed. And firfl: I fay. 



Animal Digeflion is the DiiTolution or Separation Animal 

 of the Aliments into fuch minute Farts, as are lit^^8*^^^j°*'^ 

 to enter the La6leal or milky Veffels, and circulate' ^* ^^ ' 

 with the Mafs of Blood ; or, it is the fimple Break- 

 ing of the Cohefion, or flicking together of all the 

 little Molecule or Cakes and Lumps, which com- 

 pofe the Subftances any Animal feeds upon. Now 

 the principal Agents employ'd in this Aftion, are, 

 /■/•/?, the Juices feparated by the falivary Glands 

 or Glands about the Mouth and Throat. Next 

 to the Saliva may be reckoned the Juice of the 

 Glands in the Stomach, and the Liquors we drink, 

 whofe chief Property is to foften the Aliments, as 

 they are Fluids which eafily enter the Pores of moll 

 Bodies, and by fwelling them break their moft in- 

 timate Cohefions : And how prodigious a force Flu- 

 ids have when afting in fuch a Manner, may be 

 learned from the Force that Water, with which a 

 Rope is wetted, has to raife a Weight feften'd to, 

 and fuftained at one End of it. And this Force is 

 much augmented by the Impetui or Stroke which 

 the Heat of the Stomach gives to the Particles of 

 the Fluid. Nor does this Heat promote Digeflion 

 thus only, but likev/ife by rarefying the Air con- 

 tained in the Pores of the Food, which helps to 

 burft its Parts afunder. And therefore fuch Liquors 

 as are mioft Fluid, or whofe Particles have the leaft 

 Vifcidity or Clamminefs, are moft proper to affut 

 the Faculty I am treating of; by Reafon fuch Li- 

 quors 



