164 MONTHLY ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS 
cordance with a resolution passed at the close of the last session, 
“ for the continuation of his zealous and indefatigable exertions 
in promoting the well-being of the Society.” 
He essayed to offer in return suitable thanks. 
December IsL 
This evening Mr. Draper presented an Essay on the Physio- 
logy of Digestion in the Horse. The argument awakened by it 
was interesting, and of importance, from some novel views of the 
subject having been advocated by the defender. It occupied 
two evenings of the Society. 
Mr. D. objected to the doctrine taught, that that portion of the 
stomach which is lined by cuticle possesses a triturative func- 
tion, and is similar in action to the gizzard of the fowl; nor did 
he see any reason why it should be necessary for this purpose, 
since the horse has efficient instruments of mastication. He 
believed that it secretes a peculiar fluid, which, mixing with 
the contents of the stomach, renders them fit to be acted upon 
by the gastric juice, the union being brought about by the ver- 
micular motion of the viscus, which it has in common with the 
intestines. It was considered by some as confirmative of the 
correctness of this view, that bots were lodged in this portion of 
the stomach for many successive months; and that grain often 
passed from it and through the whole of the intestinal canal in 
a perfectly unbroken state. 
The rarity of the act of vomition in the horse was spoken of, 
but many instances were adduced of its taking place ; amongst 
them was one which occurred in the infirmary. The animal was 
in the habit, soon after he had taken his feed, of turning himself 
round and ejecting nearly the w'hole of it : this he had done for 
many years. Having been destroyed on account of old age, the 
chylopoietie viscera were examined. In the stomach were found 
traces of chronic disease, and the valvular structure at its en- 
trance had lost its peculiarity, the fibres being weak and disgre- 
gated. The oesophagus near its termination was also considera- 
bly dilated. 
One great reason why the horse does not vomit was considered 
to depend upon the acuteness of the angle formed by the entrance 
of the oesophagus into the stomach. It was observed that, on 
the slightest inspection of the parts, it would be seen that the 
horse is not an animal destined to vomit. The return of matters 
through the mouth being prevented by a peculiar formation and 
adaptation of the velum palati and the epiglottis, it is hardly 
conceivable that the nostrils, lined as they are by a delicate mem- 
