The Digestive System. 51 



sessing as it does glands and follicles. Its action is alka- 

 line, normally, so that it is quite probable that consider- 

 able intestinal digestion takes place there (Smith); 

 it is likely the place where cellulose is digested. As 

 may be observed by any one, the poorer the food, 

 the greater the belly development, — generally termed — 

 paunchy; this condition is doubtless due to the fact that 

 the poor quality of food has caused the use of much of 

 the cellulose, consequently the coecuni has been devel- 

 oped to meet the necessity and as a result an enlarged 

 abdomen; the feeding of such bulky or woody food is 

 very undesirable in the horse, resulting as it often does 

 in Heaves. 



Before proceeding to the subject of Absorption, a large 

 ductless gland, the milt or spleen calls our attention. It 

 is a soft reddish sickle shaped organ lying on the great 

 curvature of the stomach; is very elastic, therefore 

 distensible, its function, however, is unknown. It is 

 surmised by some that the blood plates (corpuscles) have 

 their origin in the spleen, by others that the spleen is 

 the graveyard of these corpuscles; be that as it may, in 

 certain diseases (Anthrax, Actinomycosis, Glanders) the 

 condition or appearance of the spleen is of value in the 

 recognition of the disease (diagnosis). It has been stated 

 that the entire digestive tract is lined by mucous mem- 

 brane. 



Absorption. The lacteals originate in villi, finger-like 

 projections of the mucous membrane, which tend to give 

 it a pile. Each villus contains blood vessels, nerves and 

 lymphatics; to illustrate introduce a finger into a glove, 

 the glove material represents the mucous membrane, the 



