20 



COMrOSITION OF THE ANIMAL BODY 



and sheep have four so-called stomachs, although the first 

 three are only enormous distentions of the gullet. These 

 parts are called the rumen or paunch, the honeycomb or 

 reticulum, the manyplies or omasum, and the abomasum or 

 true stomach. In the last named, regular digestion takes 



place. In the first three 

 named, especially in the 

 paunch, there is room 

 for vast quantities of 

 rough feed. Here the 

 rough feed lies for a time 

 until it is regurgitated, 

 chewed, swallowed the 

 second time, and passed 

 to the third stomach 

 or manj-'plies. In the 

 paunch, there is gener- 

 ally a great evolution of 

 gas, due to bacterial fermentation. Under ordinary con- 

 ditions, these gases are taken up by the blood circulation 

 and expelled from the body through the lungs. 



Often when large amounts of green, dew-laden clover 

 or alfalfa are taken into the paunch, the evolution of gas 

 is greater than the blood can dispose of and bloat or hoven 

 occurs. If not relieved, the animal becomes greatly dis- 

 tressed, and the toxic or poisonous properties of these gases 

 may cause sickness or death. 



Fats. — The fats are not so readily changed by the 

 digestive fluids as are the proteins and the carbohydrates. 

 As they pass along they are first acted upon by steapsin 

 (an enzyme secreted by the pancreas) and converted 

 into soaps. Fats themselves are not soluble and are 



Fig. 4. — Stomachs of the sheep. 



