246 The Diseases of Animals 
capacity of about fifty gallons. Opening from the 
rumen at its anterior extremity is a small eavity, 
the reticulum, commonly called the “honeyeomb” on 
account of the peculiar structure of the lining mem- 
brane. It is very common to find foreign bodies, 
nails, ete., in this cavity after death. The next stomach 
is the omasum, or “manyplies,” or “manifolds,” situ- 
ated to the right of the rumen and well forward. 
The omasum is made up of a large number of folds, 
like the leaves of a book, and between these leaves the 
food lodges, and is partly digested. In this stomach 
the food is always rather dry and firm. The next and 
true stomach is the abomasum. This is situated just 
behind the manifolds and to the right of the rnmen. 
The lining membrane of the stomach is arranged in 
loose folds, which run lengthwise. In examining ani- 
mals a few hours after death, it is usual to find the 
lining membrane of the rumen and omasum peeling off 
readily over large areas. This is due to the action 
of the digestive juices, which begin after death to digest 
the stomachs themselves. In the horse there is no 
bile-cyst or gall-bladder in the liver, as there is in 
cattle and pigs. Other differences in structure of 
the alimentary canal are of comparatively small im- 
portance. 
In dealing with diseases of the digestive system, it 
should always be remembered that most of them are 
eaused by improper food or feeding, and these sources 
of trouble should be carefully scrutinized. 
