HOKSE'S STOMACH. 145 



than that of the horse, and it is remarkable for a peculiar 

 pouch or diverticulum on the left side. In all carnivora, not 

 excluding the dog and cat, the stomach is less curved on it- 

 self than the horse, and the capacity is proportionately much 

 larger. 



Amongst the peculiarities which are especially interesting 

 to the physiologist, we find that the inner lining of the 

 stomach is in the horse, however small in this animal the 

 organ may be, only in its right half, formed for the secre- 

 tion of gastric juice. The left half, which is distinguished 

 by a dotted line in Fig. 74, is covered by a non-secreting 

 tough coat, protecting the organ, and not yielding any solvent 

 fluid to act on the food. This lining is densely folded on it- 

 self, so much so, that when the stomach is inflated by blowing 

 air through the right opening or pylorus, none escapes through 

 the left or cardiac orifice. 



The muscular coat of the stomach in the horse is very 

 strong, especially where the gullet terminates in the stomach, 

 but there is not, at this part, as Colin and others have 

 imagined, a muscular guard or sphincter to prevent regurgi- 

 tation. 



In carnivorous or omnivorous animals, the stomach is not 

 only ample, but lined throughout with a membrane which 

 secretes the gastric juice. 



Before entering on the function of the stomach, I may 

 allude to the annexed engraving, Fig. 76. 



It represents the crop of a pigeon M M, and this cavity 

 may be compared to the three first stomachs of ruminants, 

 as a dilatation formed for the preparation of food to undergo 

 digestion in the true stomach below. This organ, as John 

 Hunter observed, is capable of acquiring great activity in 

 secretion, and the inner lining which is usually as seen in 0, 

 may become highly developed as in N, just before the birth 



