12 COMPENDIUM OF THE VETERINARY ART. 



receives is conveyed to it by a long muscular 

 tube, named Gcsophagus, or gullet. The oeso- 

 phagus originates in the throat, where its size 

 is considerable, but it suddenly diminishes into 

 a small tube, and is continued of the same size 

 to the stomach : the upper part has been 

 thought to resemble a funnel in its form, and 

 is distinguished by the term phari/n.v. 



The pharynx is situate immediately behind 

 the larynx J or beginning of the windpipe ; l)ut 

 is not, like it, composed of strong cartilage or 

 cristle : it is formed of membrane with a mus- 

 cular covering, which by contracting forces 

 the masticated food down the gullet, or. oeso- 

 phagus. As it is absolutely necessary to 

 breathing that the larynx should be always 

 open, it is therefore composed of strong car- 

 tilage, which cannot easily, or by moderate 

 pressure, be squeezed together and shut up : 

 but this structure is not requisite in the pha- 

 rynx, as it only requires to be opened occa- 

 sionally ; and then the muscles of the tongue 

 are able to force food or water into it, while its 

 own muscles continue to force the food or 

 water downward, tljirough the gullet, into the 

 stomach. We have before observed, that, 

 while the food or- water is passing over the 



