454 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



tlie animal economy are not well understood, and it has in some instances 

 been removed from the living animal without the apparent derangement 



THE INTESTINES AND MESENTARY. 



1. The duodenum. 2. The jejunum. 3. The ileum. 



4. The coecum, being the anterior prolongation of the colon, or first large intestine. The ileum opens 



into this (on the back side as presented in the cut), about twelve inches from its extremity — the 

 opening being defended by a valve. 



5. The large anterior portion of the colon, retaining its size (about three times that of the smaller intee- 



tines) for about two feet. 



6. 6. The colon tending toward the center. 



7.7. The returning convolutions of the colon. 



8. The rectum or straight gut, communicating with the anus. 

 9. 9. The mesentary, or that portion of the peritoneum which retains the intestines in their places. 

 10. The portion of the mesentary supporting the colon, ifcc. 

 The united length of these intestines is upward of sixty feet ! 



of any function. Mr. Youatt conjectures that its main office is to supply 

 the coloring matter of the blood. 



The Pancreas. — The pancreas or sweet-bread, with the appearance of 

 which all who have noticed the entrails of a sheep, are also familiar, is a 

 glandular body found on the left side of the belly. It has a series of 

 ducts which unite into a larger one, and, as before stated, this discharges 

 a transparent, albuminous, and somewhat acid fluid into the biliary duct 

 near the point where it enters the duodenum. This fluid acts some un- 

 known, but probably necessary part in preparing the chyme for the offices 

 it is to perform in the animal economy. 



The Liver. — The liver is much larger in proportion, in the sheep, than 

 in the horse and ox ; and it is twice the proportionate size of that of Man. 



(854) 



