450 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



open the belly from the middle of the sternum, or cartilaginous connection 

 between the ribs, to the anus. In making this and all similar incisions, 

 hold the edge of the knife upward, guarding its point with the fore-finger, 

 so that the viscera shall not be wounded. The abdomen — the whole cav- 

 ity of the trunk back of the diaphragm or " midriff" — is now laid open. 

 It is usually necessary for a better examination of the parts to make cross 

 incisions part way between the diaphragm and anus, extending down on 

 each side several inches toward the backbone. 



I shall describe the viscera in the order in which I have usually exam- 

 ined them. 



On opening the abdomen the 07nentum or caul is found covering the in- 

 testines. It is a thin, and, in a normal state, colorless and transparent 

 structure, formed of two membranes, between which extend streaks of fat 

 in the form of a net. 



The external appearance of the stomachs is given in the following cut 

 of those of a young sheep which died of disease. Their arrangement is 

 slightly different in the animal. 



Fig. 47. 



THE STOMACHS. 



a. The oesophagxis or gullet, entering the rumen or paunch. 



b. b. The rumen, or paunch, occupying three-fourths of the abdomen. 



c. The reticulum, or honey-comb — the 2d stomach. 



d. The maniplus, or many folds— the 3d stomach. 



e. The abomasum, or 4th stomach. 



/. The commencement of the duodenum or first intestine. 



^. The place of the pylorus, a valve which separates the contents of the abomasum and duodenum. 



The walls of the rumen or paunch consist of four coats or tunics — 1st, 

 the peritoneal or outer coat ; 2d, the muscular ; 3d, the mucous, covered 

 with papilla?, or little protuberances, from which (or glands under which) 

 is secreted a peculiar fluid to soften and prepare the food for re-mastica- 

 tion ; and, 4th, the inner or cuticular coat, a thin, entirely insensible mem- 

 brane, which defends the mucous coat from abrasion or ei'osion. 



(850) 



