52 HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. 



its digestion in the stomach. " Among the experiments 

 are those of Spallanzani and Reamur, who found that 

 food inclosed in perforated tubes, and introduced into 

 the stomach of an animal, was more quickly digested 

 when it had been previously impregnated with saliva 

 than when it was moistened with water. Dr. Wright 

 also found that if the ossophagus [gullet] of a dog is 

 tied, and food mixed with water alone is placed in the 

 stomach, the food will remain undigested though the 

 stomach may secrete abundant acid fluid, but if the 

 same fluid is mixed with saliva, and the rest of the 

 experiment similarly performed, the food is readily 

 digested." (Kirkes.) 



Saliva is alkaline, gastric juice acid, while the pan- 

 creatic juice and bile are both alkaline. This alternate 

 character seems to have been given to these fluids, so as 

 to regulate their action. 



The frothy nature of saliva seems to aid digestion, 

 for " the numerous air bubbles for which saliva is 

 remarkable have their special purpose ; since the 

 presence of atmospheric air in the stomach is accessory 

 to digestion." (Leared.) 



I submit that the foregoing observations indicate, as 

 a sreneral rule, the advisability of giving grain in a dry 

 state. 



The presence of salt in the food excites the flow of 

 saliva into the mouth ; hence, if boiled, or steeped food 

 be used, it should be given mixed with that condiment ; 

 because, owing to the moist and soft state of the grain, 

 a deficient amount of saliva will be secreted. 



Having reached the stomach whose capacity is from 



