200 
ON THE STOMACHS OF RUMINANTS. 
veterinary profession coming forward to your aid, in a cause 
which has for its end the advancement of veterinary science in 
all its departments. With this feeling, I forward you the fol¬ 
lowing remarks ; and if, haply, I may add one grain of informa¬ 
tion to the present stock of veterinary knowledge, or be the 
means of stimulating some one wdth more scientific acquirements, 
or more favourable opportunities, to pursue the subject further, 
my aim will be accomplished. 
In looking over the few numbers I have by me, with a view 
of fixing on some subject on which to address you, I could 
not but notice the dearth of physiological and pathological facts 
respecting neat cattle, and other ruminant animals. 1 the more 
regret this, as it is an acknowledged fact, that the education of 
veterinary surgeons has hitherto been 7nost lamentably deficient 
in this branch of veterinary science; and as it is equally a fact, 
that be the observations of any one man ever so acute, be his 
researches ever so deep, and his opportunities of acquiring 
information ever so extended, yet, without communication, 
the result of all these cannot benefit others; so, by parity of 
reasoning, neither can he himself, without communication, 
benefit by the industry and researches of his professional brethren. 
Now, as there is no other medium in the veterinary w'orld through 
which we can publicly contribute our stores of information, for 
the mutual benefit of the profession, than the work edited by 
you, I am determined, for one (provided you will register my 
depositJ, to place a small stock in your savings’ bank of vete¬ 
rinary knowledge, from which I know I can at all times receive 
'^mine own with usury.” 
Perhaps there is no part of the animal economy less thoroughly 
understood than the digestive organs of cattle. The general 
structure and supposed uses of the four stomachs of oxen, for 
instance, is familiar to every one of us; but there are certain 
peculiarities connected wdth their organization, in the different 
states of health and disease, a minute acquaintance with w^hich 
appears to me to be essentially necessary to' the practitioner whose 
sole aim is directed to the well-being of the animal. 
There is no doubt but that the internal economy and arrange¬ 
ment of parts in every animal is best adapted for the good 
of that animal; and in a perfectly natural state I am persuaded 
that cattle suffer but few evils from the peculiar conformation of 
their stomachs; but in the partly natural, partly artificial state 
in which they are now kept, it is notorious that they do suffer 
much and frequently from indigestion. 
In looking over the few cases that are detailed in the several 
numbers of The Veterinarian for 1832, I find scarcely one 
V 
