D1GESTI0A\ 73 



enough in them to do them good." Durhig tlie active process 

 of chymification, as it is called, going on in the stomach, its 

 orifices are in great measure closed ; but after it is eifected, the 

 food is gradually forced through the pyloric opening into the 

 duodenum, where it has to undergo that further process of 

 digestion, called chylification. The pyloric orifice is furnished 

 with a circular band of fibres, covered by a fold of the villous or 

 nervous coat, which appears to have, by its extreme sensibility, 

 a power of selecting that portion of the food which has been 

 suflficiently chymified. Not but what food frequently passes 

 through without being acted on by the gastric juice ; for we find 

 in birds that seeds are frequently dropped with the dung in a 

 perfect state, and in the fteces of horses we may frequently de- 

 tect grain in a whole state. 



The stomach is largely supplied with nervous energy, by 

 means of an important nerve, called the par vagum, or pneumo- 

 gastric ; and it has been found that on dividing this nerve, 

 the process of digestion has ceased, showing how essential this 

 connection is between the stomach and the bi'ain. It has, how- 

 ever, been found, that where galvanism has been applied to the 

 mutilated nerves, digestion has again commenced, and been 

 carried on for some time. 



It should not be forgotten that the process of chymification 

 is very much assisted by the high temperature of the stomach, 

 which during the process is very much increased. 



The process of chymification may be disturbed, and the func- 

 tions of the stomach deranged, by various causes. We well 

 know that in ourselves fear and anxiety will both destroy the 

 appetite and produce dyspepsia ; and in irritable horses the same 

 effect will be produced. Cold applied to the skin will also 

 derange the stomach, and still more frequently will disordered 

 stomach derange the skin ; so intimate is the sympathy between 

 these parts. — Ed.] 



It has been remarked that cavalry horses, stationed near the 

 sea, have rough staring coats, are hide-bound, and often other- 

 wise diseased : this pi-obably depends upon the bad quality of 

 the Avater in such situations. M. Collainc, Pi'ofessor of the Ve- 

 terinary School at IVIilan, says, " I have remarked that in Italy 

 many corps of cavalry, after being stationed a few months near 

 the sea, have been strongly affected with the farcy." I have 

 seen a large dose of infusion of tobacco cause violent shivering ; 

 and in some experiments I once made on a glandered horse, the 

 same effect was uniformly produced by a lai'ge dose of a solution 

 of arsenic. Many other circumstances might be adduced to show 

 the connection or sympathy that exists between the digestive 

 organs and the skin, or, in other words, the organ of perspir- 

 ation. Many of the diseases of cattle may be traced to this 



