124 THE STOCK owner's ADVISER. 



length, and its capacity may average six gallons. It is some- 

 what conical in shape, curved at its supero-posterior extrendty, 

 presenting on its outer surface a number of circular constric- 

 tions and longitudinal muscular bands. The great colon is very 

 large, measuring on an average from nine to eleven feet in 

 length, and sometimes having a capacity of eighteen gallons. 

 It has numerous transverse furrows and longitudinal muscular 

 bands externally, and internally it resembles the caecum. The 

 floating colon succeeds the great colon, and is convoluted. Its 

 length is about ten feet. It is suspended by the colic mesen- 

 tery. The contents of the colon, made up of the coarser parts 

 of the food, become hard and solid, being deprived of nearly all 

 moisture and nutrition. 



The rectum or straight intestine extends in a direct line from 

 the entrance of the pelvic cavity to the anus, and resembles in 

 structure the floating colon, but its walls are thicker. Its serous 

 coat is a reflection of the ^^eritoneum; the muscular coat is very 

 strong, consisting of longitudinal bands, with circular fibers 

 beneath them. In the spaces between its transverse ridges the 

 faeces assume their characteristic shape. 



The anus is the posterior opening of the alimentary canal. 

 Lying below the root of the tail, it forms a round projection, 

 which becomes less prominent with age. It consists of thin, 

 hairless skin externally and of mucous membrane internally, 

 the two being continuous. 



THE LIVER. 



The liver is a solid gland, located in the abdomen. It is the 

 largest secreting gland in the body, weighing from ten to twelve 

 pounds. The coverings of the liver are an external serous and 

 an internal fibrous coat. It is situated in close proximity to the 

 right side of the diaphragm, and is divided into three lobes. Its 

 normal color is a coal brown, but it varies in color from different 

 diseases. It consists of very minute lobules, varying from about 

 1-17 tc 1-13 of an inch in diameter, separated from each other 



