261 
THE RUMEN, A RECEPTACLE OF WATER. 
abundantly provided with it; and this is in perfect accordance with 
the secretions and the functions which each of these stomachs has 
to discharge. 
Le Zoiatre du Midi, Fevrier 1838. 
THE RUMEN, A RECEPTACLE OF WATER. 
By Mr . H. W. Sparrow, R.VC . 
Being aware of the importance of that branch of the veterinary 
art designated “ cattle practice,” a preparation for which is now 
so zealously and nobly demanded as an indispensable part of the 
education of the veterinary student, I think that it behoves every 
one who professes to follow and who loves this noble art — and no 
one should follow it who does not love it — to contribute his mite to 
the common weal. 
When Mr. Ernes’ valuable Essay on Rumination was discussed, and 
the manner in which a fluid passed into the stomachs of ruminants 
was spoken of, it was said that a small portion only found its way 
into the rumen, and that the greater part flowed on into the aboma- 
sum. With all due deference to those who are superior to me in 
years and in science, I must beg leave to doubt the truth of this 
assertion, and to state it as my opinion, that the greater portion goes 
into the rumen, and the lesser into the abomasum. I will refer to 
actual facts, and one fact is worth a thousand theories. 
Cattle and sheep when bought for slaughter, and driven home 
from the market, are, if practicable, sent by the purchaser to a field 
for a few days, or a week, or occasionally two or three weeks. If 
it is grass time, probably the animal has but little water. By and 
by he is killed, and the contents of the rumen are found to be of a 
pultaceous character. If he is not sent to a field, he is put into a 
pound or shed, and fed with hay, having water continually before 
him, and the contents of the rumen are soft, as in the other case. 
Too often, however, only hay is given to him, and then the contents 
of the rumen are very hard; and, on such occasions, it is not uncom- 
mon to hear the slaughterman say to the person whose duty it was 
to supply these animals with water, “ Why ! you have not given 
these beasts, or sheep, any thing to drink.” From this I infer that 
a portion of the water, and probably the greater portion, goes into the 
rumen ; the rest — the smaller portion — into the abomasum ; and that 
the pillars are for the same purpose or use to the other stomachs 
which the epiglottis is to the trachea, namely, in order to prevent 
any thing from passing that would interfere with the formation of 
chyle. 
VOL. XII. 
M m 
