Digestive Organs of the Ox and Sheep. 
51 
throug'li whic:h neutralizing fluids may be injected into the 
stomach ; thus bringing them into immediate contact with the 
ingesta. It is important to bear in mind that the operation should 
always be performed on the left side of the animal, in conse- 
quence of the inclination of the rumen to that part of the 
abdominal cavity. The sketch in p. 50 exposes to view the first 
stomach in its natural situation, (fig. 12) : a, the anterior 
pouch ; b, the postero-superior, tlie one which is opened in these 
cases ; c, the middle ; and d, the postero-inferior. The place of 
puncture is represented in fig. 13 : it is situated midway between 
a represents the spot where the trocar should be introduced in puncturing tlie rumen. 
the last rib and the hip, or the anterior sj)inous process of the 
ileum, and rather more than a hand's breadth below the transverse 
processes of the bones of the loins. 
The instrument employed is called a trocar (see fig. 14) ; it con- 
sists of a stilet, having a lancet- p.^ 
shaped point, and a canula or ^ L-/^===s^ 
sheath. The stilet should be — 
about six inches in length, and 
when placed within the canula it should protrude about three- 
fourths of an inch ; its diameter may vary from three-eighths to 
half an inch. In performing the operation, it is best to first 
puncture the skin with a lancet ; which having done, insert the 
point of the instrument in the wound, and thrust the stilet covered 
hy tlie sheath inwards and slightly downwards, using sufficient force 
to penetrate the coats of the rumen ; afterwards withdraw the 
E 2 
