DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 



39 



DISEASES OF THE IXTESTINES 



General Discussion.— The intestinal tract of solipeds is the 

 best developed of any of the domestic animals (Fig. 14). It 

 is divided into two ])ortions, 

 smdll and large. The .small in- 

 testine is a little over seventy 

 feet in length and abont one 

 and one-half inches in diameter. 

 The nmcous membrane lining 

 presents a large absorbing sur- 

 face and is well snp]ilicd with 



absorbing vessels that take np 

 the sngars, proteids and fats, 

 which are finally distributed to 

 the body cells by the blood capil- 

 laries. In addition to these 

 absorbing vessels the mncons 

 membrane contains intestinal 

 glands that secrete the intesti- 

 nal juice. Other digestive se- 

 cretions from the pancreatic 

 gland and the liver are poured 

 into the small intestine near its 

 origin. These digestive juices 

 act on the proteids, sugars, 

 starches and fats, changing 

 them into substances that are 

 capable of being absorbed. 



After disengaging itself from 

 the mass of loops lodged in the 

 region of the left flank, the small intestine crosses to the region 

 of the right flank, where it terminates in the first division of the 

 large intestine. 



The large intestine is formed by the following divisions: 



Fig. 14. — Fnotograph of model of di- 

 gestive tract of horse : (C) oesophagus ; 

 (B, D) stomach; (F) liver; (E, G. H) small 

 intestine; (I to W) large intestine; (A) 

 spleen. 



