832 CATTLE. 



to be united together, and enfolded in one common expansion of the 

 mesentery. They he on the right side of the belly, occupying the 

 flank, and resting upon the right portion of the rumen. The jejunum 

 and the ileum constitute the border of this mesenteric expansion, 

 and are disposed in the form of numerous spiral convolutions. If 

 they were unfolded, the length of these intestines would, in an ox 

 of common size, amount to more than one hundred feet. This 

 length of small intestine is designed to compensate for the want of 

 development and of cells in the larger ones. The food is detained 

 by the length of the passage, and also by the construction of the 

 convolutions. The principal absorption of chyle takes place in 

 them. 



THE CECUM. 



It describes a considerable arch {^ee fig. 4, p. 330,) the superior 

 extremity of which is fixed to the portion of mesentery common to 

 it and the small intestines, while the inferior portion floats loose in 

 the abdomen, and is prolonged into the pelvic cavity, where it has a 

 rounded termination. The portion of food that can enter into it is 

 small, and cannot be detained long there, because there are no lon- 

 gitudinal bands to pucker the intestine into numerous and deep cells ; 

 but the contents of the caecum have the character of being more fluid 

 than in any other part of the intestinal canal. The length of the 

 caecum seldom exceeds a yard. 



THE COLON. 



This intestine is evidently divisible into two parts, (see fig. 5. 

 p. 330 ;) the one smaller than the caecum is supported by the com- 

 mon mesentery ; the other floats loose in the belly, and forms part of 

 the second mass of intestines. It has convolutions, but is destitute 

 of muscular bands. It is less than the caecum, but combined with 

 the next and the last intestine, the rectum, it measures more than 

 thirty-three feet. The want of mechanical obstruction to the pass- 

 age of the food is thus made up by the increased length of the 

 viscera. In the colon, the process of digestion may be considered to 

 be in a manner terminated, and all that remains is faeculent matter, 

 that continues to be urged on in order to be expelled. 



THE RECTUM. 



This intestine, so 'ailed from the straight course which it runs, 

 terminates the diofestive canal. It has no lonoitudinal bands, for it 



O ID ' 



contains little beside the excrement that is to be discharged, or that 

 should least of all be detained. The lacteal absorbents may still be 

 traced in this intestine, but it is probable that very little nutritive 

 matter is taken up, although, from the occasional hardened state of 

 the dung;, it is possible that much fluid may be carried ofl[. 



