ALIMENTATION. 187 



sium with a little ammonia added; the second by potassium iodide, 

 and the third by a solution of bicarbonate of soda with a little 

 caustic soda. 



Action of the Pancreatic Juice. 



1. It changes starch and glucose into sugar rapidly and com- 

 pletely. Cane-sugar not acted upon. 



2. It emulsifies and saponifies fats completely with the aid of 

 the bile. 



3. It converts albumin into peptones. 



4. It, by means of a special ferment, curdles milk. This fer- 

 ment can be extracted by a solution of common salt, but has not 

 yet been isolated in the horse. 



THE INTESTINAL JUICE. 



This is secreted by Brunner's glands and the crypts of Lieber- 

 kuhn. Its specific gravity is about 1010, alkaline in reaction, 

 and its composition is as follows (Charles, from Colin): 



Water 98.10 



Solids i .90 



Albumin and other organic matters 0.45 



Carbonate of soda 1.45 



Its amount in 24 hours is difficult to estimate, Colin having 

 found about 12 ounces an hour in about six feet of gut. This 

 may be increased by injection into the gut of irritants. 



Its Action is much the same as the pancreas, dissolving pro- 

 teids and albumin, and converting starch into sugar. 



The gases found in the intestine are oxygen, nitrogen, carbon 

 dioxide, hydrogen, ammonia, carburetted and sulphuretted hy- 

 drogen. About 60 per cent, of the proteids have to be digested 

 in the small intestine. 



DIGESTION IN THE LARGE INTESTINE. 



The Caecum serves as a reservoir for the food after about 24 

 hours, the fermentative changes of the small intestine still going 

 on in an alkaline medium. About 20 per cent, of the food is 

 digested in that viscus, and about 40 per cent, of the cellulose. 



