of graminivorous and carnivorous Animals. 173 
ther the gastric juice is acid or alkaline, — the results were 
detailed without any possible bias. 
The stomachs of seven dogs were examined immediately 
after death, which took place while digestion was going on ; 
and among other observations the following appear among Mr. 
Hunter's notes made at the time : 
“ In all the dogs the food was least dissolved or even mixed 
“ towards the great end of the stomach, but became more and 
“ more so towards the pylorus ; and just within the pylorus, 
“ it was mixed with a whitish fluid like cream, which was also 
“ found in the duodenum.” 
He afterwards adds ; “ It is plain that digestion is com- 
<c pleted in the stomach, as none of the crude food is found 
“ beyond that cavity ; and even within the pylorus there is the 
“ same white fluid that is met with in the duodenum.” 
From the result of these experiments, as well as from the 
analogy of other animals, it is reasonable to believe that the 
glands situated at the termination of the cuticular lining of the 
oesophagus, which have been described, secrete the solvent 
liquor, which is occasionally poured on the food, so as to be in- 
timately mixed with it before it is removed from the cardiac 
portion : and the muscular contraction retains it there till that 
takes place. 
Such contraction being occasionally required in the stomach, 
accounts for its being more or less bent upon itself, which 
renders it more readily divided into two portions by the action 
of the muscular fibres at that part where the angle is 
formed. 
It accounts for men occasionally ruminating, a process, which 
without such a contraction, could hardly take place. That some 
mdcccvii, A a 
