214 THE H0RS:E. 



may then be exhibited. A few slight tonics should be given when the 

 horse is recovering from an attack of stranj^les. Two drachms each of 

 gentian and chamomile, with one of ginger, will form a useful ball. 



THE SPLEEN. 



This organ, known commonly by the name of the melt^ is a long, bluish- 

 brown substance, broad and thick at one end and tapering at the other, 

 lying along the left side of the stomach, and between it and the short ribs. 

 It is of a spongy nature, divided into numerous little cells not unlike a 

 honey comb, and over which thousands of minute vessels thickly spread. 

 The particular use of this body has never been clearly ascertained ; for in 

 some cruel experiments it has been removed without apparent injury to 

 digestion, or any other function. It is, however, useful, at least occa- 

 sionally, or it would not have been given. It is perhaps a reservoir or 

 receptacle for any fluid that may be conveyed into the stomach more than 

 is sufficient for the purposes of digestion. 



The spleen is sometimes very extraordinarily enlarged, and has been 

 ruptured ; but we are not aware of any symptoms by which this can be 

 discovered. 



THE PANCREAS. 



\\\ the domestic animals which are used for food, this organ is called the 

 sweetbread. It lies between the stomach and left kidney. It much 

 resembles in structure the saUvary glands in the neighbourhood of the 

 mouth, and the fluid which it secretes is very like common saliva. The 

 pancreatic fluid is carried into the intestines by a duct which enters at the 

 same aperture with that from the liver. Its use, whether to dilute the bile, 

 or the chyme, or to assist in the separation of chyme from the feculent 

 matter, has never been ascertained, but it is clearly employed in aiding the 

 process of digestion. 



We know not of any disease to which the pancreas of the horse is hable. 



As soon as the belly of most of our domestic animals is opened, a mem- 

 brane is perceived spreading over all the contents of this cavity ; it is 

 denominated 



THE OMENTUM, 



Or cawl. It is a doubling of the peritoneum, or rather consists of four 

 layers of it. It has been supposed to be placed between the intestines 

 and the walls of the belly, to prevent concussion and injury during the 

 rapid movement of the animal. That, however, cannot be its principal use 

 in the horse, from whom the most rapid movements are required ; for in 

 him it is unusually short, extending only to the pancreas, and a small 

 portion of the colon. Being, however, thus short, the horse is exempt 

 from a very troublesome and, occasionally, fatal species of rupture, when 

 a portion of the omentum penetrates through some accidental opening in 

 the covering of the belly. 



The blood contains a great quantity of watery fluid unnecessary for the 

 nutriment or repair of the frame. There Ukewise mingle with it matters 

 which would be noxious if suffered to accumulate too much. 



THE KIDNEYS 



are actively employed in separating this water, and likewise carrying off" a 

 substance which constitutes the peculiar ingredient in urine, called the 

 tireUf and consists principally of that which would be poisonous to the 



