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- arc derived from the pneumogastrics and solar plexus, and in accom- 

 panying tin vessels show microscopic ganglia in their course; their mode 

 i-f termination is not known. 



FUNCTIONS. In the stomach is begun those transformations by which 

 alimentary matters are rendered capable of being assimilated. There the 

 food comes into contact with the gastric fluid, by whose action its principal 

 ek-nirnt-. ami particularly the albuminoid substances, become soluble and 

 ibflorbable, after undergoing some isonieric changes. 



nil tKHKNTlAL CHARACTERS IN THE STOMACH OP OTHEIt THAN SOUPED ANIMALS. 



The stomach is an organ that exhibits great differences in the various domesticated 

 auimnls. In the study of these differences, we will proceed from the simple to the 

 complex. 



1. The Stomach of the I'ig. 



The Piij* stomach is simple, like that of the Horse, but it is less curved on it-elf, and the 

 cardia is nearer the left extremity ; the latter has also a small conical dilatation, which 

 has been compared to a cowl curved backwards. The oesophagus opens into the stomach 

 by a wide infundibulum, an.l the mucous membrane of that conduit is prolonged over 

 the gastric surface in a radius of from two to three inches around the cardia. Here 

 again we find a " trace of the division into two sacs,'' common to Solipeds. 



The capacity of the PIG'S btomach averages from one and a half to two gallons. 

 (The muscular tunic is thicker in' the right than the left extremity; near theceso- 

 pl.agus the serous tunic shows some transverse folds.) 



2. The Stomach of Carnivora. (Fig. 191.) 



In the Dog and Cat the ventriculus is but little curved, and is pear-shaped, the 

 .-mall extremity corresponding to the 



pylorus. The cardia is dilated like a Fi g- 19 1- 



funnel, and is nearer the left extremity 

 of the organ than in other animals. The 

 i-^ij>h;iu'e;il mucous membrane is not con- 

 tinued beyond the margin of that orifice. 

 Til-- Dimple stomach of C'arnivora forms 

 only a single sac, whose internal mucous 

 membrane presents, throughout its whole 

 the same organisation as the 

 membrane, lining the right sac of Soli- 

 jwds. This membrane is remarkable for 

 the regular a:id undulated folds it forms 

 when the stomach is empty. Nothing 

 i- in-.!.- variable tlmn the capacity of the 



stomach, because of the- great dif- 



- in the size of this animal, accord- 

 ing to breed. M. Colin has found the 

 minimum to he 1} pints, and the maxi- 

 mum I j| gallons; he calculates the aver- 

 age to be about 2$ quarts. In the Cat, 

 the average ia from 2 t. 2\ gills. 



:;. The Stomach of RuminnnU. 



Tin se animals are distinguised from 

 the others by the ficulty they possess 

 of swallowing their food after imperfect 

 comminution, and causing it to return 

 into the mouth to submit it to a 

 second m '.-tii-ati-m, previous to final de- 

 glutition. The gastric apparatus is ad- 

 mirably arranged to effect this physio- 

 logical finality, and is remarkable for its 



uoui development, as well as ite division into four separate pouches, *hk-h arc 

 r*>Rrdt d ns BO many stomachs. 



r 



STOMACH OF THE DOO. 

 A, (Esophagus ; B, Pylorus. 



