HOW THE ANIMAL LIVES 217 



time and opportunity for the full digestion of 

 the starch. 



3S3. Disjestion is further favore<l in tliese 

 animals by the cliewinc: of the cud, hy means 

 of whicli the solid portions are returned to 

 the mouth, morsel by moi-sel, to be leisurely 

 irround down and a^ain saturateil with saliva. 

 Digestion is more thoroughly accomplished in 

 the third stomach, in which the food is 

 ground to the finest pulp between the one 

 hundretl folds, largo and small, which fill its 

 intt'rior. 



;184. This thorough lnvaking up or com- 

 minution prepares the food for the easy digestion 

 of its nitrogenous principles in the fourth stoiu- 

 aeh. The removal of the starch rendei-s even 

 the finest particles of food more porous, and 

 permits the prompt and speedy action of the 

 stomach juices on its whole substance. 



38.'). For some time after birth, the salivary 

 glands pro<bice little saliva, and still less ptj*a- 

 lin. This is in keeping with the exclusive milk 

 di»'t, in which there is no starch to be acted 

 upon. For this reason, any starchy food in the 

 early days of life is out of place; for, as it 

 cannot Ik» change<l into sugar, nor absorlKvl 

 until it has pass»Hl through the stomaeh and 

 reached the intestine, it is liable to femient 

 and to form irritant products, and indigestion. 



