CHAPTER XVII 



THE COW'S DIGESTION 



rpO have a cow do her best, under all varying 

 ■■■ and trying conditions, it is necessary to have 

 some knowledge of her anatomy, especially of the 

 digestive organs, and the construction and function 

 of the udder. 



A cow has four stomachs ; or she may be said to 

 have one which is divided into four compartments. 

 The first stomach, the paunch or rumen, is by far 

 the largest and will hold thirty-six gallons or more. 

 It is when this stomach becomes full of fresh green 

 feed or a quantity of grain which ferments or 

 swells, that suffocation from excessive bloating 

 may cause death. The lining of the second 

 stomach is full of cavities which give it the name, 

 the " honeycomb." These cells are supposed to 

 be there for the purpose of catching any foreign 

 matter, such as small stones, nails, etc., which a 

 cow might get in her food. In the third stomach 

 the lining is thrown into folds or leaves, resem- 

 bling the leaves of a book, which has given it the 

 name, the " many-plies." Between these folds, 

 the surface of which is corrugated, the food is 

 rubbed to reduce it further. The fourth and last 



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