DIGESTION 



345 



caecum and colon. So rapid is absorption in the lower 

 bowel that the animal may be easily anaesthetised by giving 

 ether per rectum. The rapid absorption allows of life being 

 maintained by nutrient enemata. 



Some of the movements of the alimentary tract are of 

 special interest in the horse. 



In neither the small nor the large intestine have segmental 

 movements been observed, but an anti-peristaltic movement 

 has been described. As the contents of the intestine are Kquid 



Fig. 158. — Mesial Section through the Head of a Horse, to show the long 

 soft palate,/, lying against the front of the epiglottis, i ; c, the tongue ; 

 I, the arytenoids. (Ellenberger. ) 



segmentation is unnecessary. Anti-peristaltic movements 

 serve by mixing the contents to bring the food into more 

 intimate contact with the intestinal secretions, and also 

 prevent the too rapid emptying of the small intestine into 

 the caecum. 



In defaecation the contraction of the rectum is so powerful 

 that the act can be performed without fixation of the dia- 

 phragm or closing of the glottis, though these usually occur 

 when the animal is at rest. The crouching attitude common 

 to nearly all animals is not adapted. The horse can there- 

 fore defsecate when trotting. 



? 



