ABDOMINAL VISCERA OF THE HORSE. 673 
membranes of the same nature, it forms a closed sac, which, 
however, is not the case in the female, as its cavity communi- 
cates with that of the uterus, owing to the open state of the 
Fallopian tubes at their fimbriated edges. 
It is loosely connected with the abdominal parietes by sub- 
serous cellular tissue, and the same obtains with regard to its 
connexion with the viscera. But we find some parts more 
adherent than others, such as along the linea alba and cordiform 
portion of the diaphragm. Also on the organs it is but loosely 
connected with them at their attached border, where it forms 
generally a triangular space, occupied simply by vessels, nerves, 
and cellular tissue, and allowing of their distention and alteration 
in figure. On the other hand, it is more adherent as it extends 
over the free surface or margin of the various parts it is in 
contact with. 
The peritoneum being considered as extending from the 
umbilicus over the abdominal parietes towards the median line 
of the diaphragm and spine, is found there to fold on itself, and 
proceed from the latter on to the intestine, forming the mesenters; 
and from the former on to the liver and stomach, constituting 
ligaments. These folds of peritoneum are also seen extending 
from organs to other parts of the abdominal parietes, and these 
also constitute ligaments. Then they may be traced from one 
organ to another, giving rise to the several omenta ; all of which 
we shall more especially allude to as we speak of the peritoneal 
coat of each separate viscus. 
Stomach. 
The stomach is the dilated portion of the alimentary canal, 
intermediate between the oesophagus and small intestine : 
through the former it receives the ingested aliment, for which it 
acts as a reservoir during the process of chymification, the active 
agent in which is the gastric secretion. 
In the horse, as well as all other solipedes, this viscus is 
exceptional in not being the most capacious dilatation of the 
alimentary canal. M. Colin, in a paper published in the 
Recueil de Mtdtcine Veterinaire Pratique for June 1849, 
states that the capacity of the horse’s stomach is very variable. 
He says, that in a very small horse he found it only nine quarts 
(according to his evaluation by litre, which may be considered 
as thirty-four fluid ounces), while in one of colossal dimensions 
it was as much as 33f quarts, both having died at the college 
(Alfo.t) infirmary. He gives the average as being from 13/ 0 
quarts to 14£. Then, considering the capacity of the stomach in 
relation with that of the intestines, he found it in a very small 
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