THE CHANGES OF FOOD IN THE STOMACHS. 



paunch, a swinging or balancing motion of that stomach, both up- 

 ward and downward and forward and backward, may be plainly 

 Been. 



The uses of the papillae seem to be various ; they support the 

 weight of the superincumbent food, unmasticated, and liable to injure 

 the coat of the stomach, over which it is continually moving ; they 

 take away from the foUicular glands of the stomach that pressure 

 which would render it impossible for these glands to discharge that 

 mucous lubricating fluid which is requisite for the protection of the 

 stomach and the revolution of the food. The papillae are conse- 

 quently more numerous and larger and stronger at the centre or 

 bottom of each of the compartments where the food would accumu- 

 late and press most ; and they are more thinly scattered, and in some 

 places almost disappear, where there is no danger from tlie pressure 

 of the friction. In addition to all these, are the important functions 

 of yielding and suffering the food to pass unimpeded along, while tlie 

 stoma*ch is rapidly filling as tlie animal grazes, and then by their 

 erectile power retarding that progress when the beast has ceased to 

 eat, and the slow process of rumination has commenced. The glandu- 

 lar bodies, to which allusion has been made, are most plentifully 

 situated, and are of largest size, on the upper part of the sides of the 

 rumen, where they are least exposed to pressure, and may discliargc 

 the lubricating mucus which they secrete, without obstacle. 



The only change that takes place in the food in a healthy state 

 and action of this stomach is that of maceration, and preparation for 

 the second mastication, as may be easily proved by taking from the 

 mouth of a cow a pellet that has been returned for rumination, and 

 which will be found to be merely the grass, or other food, no other- 

 wise altered than being softened, and covered with a portion of 

 mucus. The fluid which the rumen contains is not secieted there, 

 but whenever the animal di'inks, a portion of the water breaks through 

 the pillars of the oesophagean canal, regulated in quantity either by 

 the will of the beast or by the sympathy of the parts with the state 

 and wants of the stomach, or with the state of the constitution 

 generally. The rumen of a healthy ox always contains a considerable 

 quantity of fluid. 



The food, having traversed all the compartments of this stomach, 

 would arrive again at the point from Avhich it started, were it not that 

 a fold of the rumen arrests its course, and gives it a somewhat 

 difi"erent direction. This fold is placed at the spot where there exists 

 a communication between the rumen and the reticulum, and which 

 also is guarded by a fold or valve ; but the peristaltic motion of the 

 stomach going on, and the food pressing from behind, a portion of it 

 is at length, by a convulsive action, partly voluntary and partly 

 involuntary, thrown over this fold into the reticulum. 



The inner coat of the reticulum, or second stomach, has been 



