222 



PHYSIOLOGY OF THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



is no floating colon, and, while the mucous membrane is sacculated to a 

 certain extent, the folds are by no means as extensive as in the herbivora. 

 In the omnivora the caecum resembles that of the horse in having three 

 longitudinal bands and transverse constrictions, and has increased in 

 complexity from that of the carnivorous animal. It is absent in the 

 bear and weasel. The caecum reaches its highest degree of complexity in 

 the monogastric herbivora. In these animals, as in the horse (Fig. 79), it 

 becomes greatly enlarged, convoluted, condensed into folds, has special 



Fro. 79. CAECUM AND GKEAT COTTON OK HORSE. (Strangeways.) 



A, caecum; B C, its muscular bands; D, termination of ilenm: E, first, E'. second, F, third, and 

 F', fourth divisions of colon ; G, pelvic flexure; H, origin of floating colon. The arrows indicate the 

 course of the food through the colon. 



valves and glands, and in the horse may contain six gallons of fluid, 

 being three times as large as the stomach. In the solipede and rodent 

 the caecum therefore reaches its highest stage of development, and has 

 special digestive functions to fulfill. In the ox, whose small intestine 

 differs but little from that of the horse, although it is smaller in calibre 



