EXPERIMENTS ON DIGESTION. 
439 
fluid contained in the paunch of a sheep that had fed on straw and 
oats, and also in that of a calf. It is also found occasionally in the 
reticulum. 
7. Butyrate of Ammonia has been disco verd in a very small 
quantity in the paunch of sheep fed on oats or straw. 
8. Albumen. — This has been found in a small quantity in the 
stomach of sheep fed on oats. It also existed in calves— at least, 
the coagulum produced by boiling consisted entirety of the caseous 
matter of the milk. 
9. Matter precipitable by Acids. — This has been recognised in 
a small quantity in the rumen and reticulum of oxen and sheep fed 
on grass. It is doubtful, however, whether the precipitate which 
is formed consists of caseous matter, for the alkaline fluid may 
readily hold in solution some substance precipitable by acids. 
10. Matter precipitable by Chloruret of Tin.— A great quantity* 
of this has been detected in the liquids contained in the rumen and 
reticulum of cattle and sheep. As the chloruret of tin is also pre- 
cipitated by the alkaline phosphates and carbonates; and as these 
salts — the latter more especially — are abundant in most liquids, it 
is difficult to decide whether the chief precipitates, which are here 
obtained in considerable quantities, depend altogether on any ani- 
mal matter, such as the saliva or osmazome. 
11. Matter which is reddened by the Hydrochloric Acid , and 
which escapes in distillation . — This is found in oxen and in sheep 
that had been fed on grass, and also in those that had been de- 
stroyed after the opening of the pancreatic duct. 
12. The fixed Salts obtained by destructive Distillation. — The 
following table will represent their comparative quantities : — 
Alkaline 
Alkaline 
Alkaline 
Alkaline 
Carbonate 
Carbonate. 
Phosphate. 
Sulphate. 
Chloruret. 
of Lime. 
Cattle 
. 5 
5 
1 
3 
3 
Sheep fed on grass 
. 5 
5 
3 
5 
1 
Ditto on hay 
. 5 
4 
1 
4 
0 
Ditto on oats 
. 2 
5 
1 
5 
1 
Phosphate 
of Lime. 
4 
4 
.5 
4 
The alkali consisted of soda with a little potash in cattle and 
sheep. The least quantity of potash was found in calves. 
The fixed salts obtained by destructive distillation of the fluids 
of the reticulum were precisely of the same character*. 
The action which the two first stomachs, and the paunch espe- 
cially, exercises on the food, consists in softening it by means of 
the alkaline fluid which they secrete, and which mingles with the 
aliment. The food seems likewise to undergo, at the same time, a 
* Although this long chemical account may not be interesting to the gene- 
ral reader, the scientific inquirer will occasionally refer to it with considerable 
interest. — Y. 
