THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. ~ 99 



of the loins, so crossed the left flank, that, while the entire 

 movement of it which made the shadow general showed the 

 act of respiration, the creeping and gradual encroachment of it 

 upon the lower part of the flank indicated the contractions of 

 the rumen. 



" It has struck us as being possible to carry our investigations 

 further by inquires per rectum. With this view we have intro- 

 duced our arm into the rectum of the cow at the time of feeding, 

 and carrying it towards the left flank have perceived the same 

 movements as were visible to us in the palpitation of the flank 

 externally. We have endeavored to make the same inquiries 

 during rumination, but no sooner had this been attempted than 

 almost immediately has the act ceased. If the ear be applied 

 to the cardiac region, extraordinary agitation is heard in the 

 great gastric cavities: a sound beomes very distinguishable 

 resembling a noise made by an oar splashing in the water, and 

 that of the water afterwards dropping from it when raised. At 

 the same time gaseous sounds are heard. If it be true that the 

 salivary gland be remarked to be swollen at the time of 

 rumination, it could not fail to interest us to know if such turges- 

 cence be greater during preparatory mastication than while 

 ruminating. We have pervailed on M. Clement, chef de 

 service of chemistry, to make for us an analysis of the rumina- 

 tory cud obtained through compression of the oesophagus ; and 

 the following is the result : — 



" Ruminatory Cud. 



" Water, 93.21 



Organic matter, 5.25 



Soluble alkaline salts, 0.22 



Insoluble salts, 1 .32 



100.00 



" By the way of sequel to the above, we collected from the 

 reticulum of a bullock, about to be slaughtered, some of the 

 fluid contained in it, which likewise M. Clement has had the 

 kindness to analyze. 



