204 
ON THE STOMACHS OF IIUMINANTS. 
the resemblance of a button-hole ; the termination of the esopha¬ 
gus corresponding to the hole made for the shank of the button, 
with its three-parts sphincter-like appearance ; and the two mus¬ 
cular pillars to the two sides of the same, the stitches of which 
present you wdth a fair likeness of the muscular formation of the 
said bands. This termination of the gullet is fixed, as nearly as 
possible, above the ridge of partition of the two stomachs, so as 
properl}" to act for both. The external muscular construction of 
the second stomach, you will recollect, is similar to that of the 
scrotum, accumulating in power towards the base, and admirably 
adapted to the pur|X)se of forming and propelling a portion of 
its contents upwards. Now, when this power is called into 
action, if the portion of its contents supposed to be moved be 
presented at that three-parts rounded portion of the canal which 
terminates the esophagus, the consequence is, it is seized by that 
organ, wdiich appears to have the power of forcing it upwards, and 
thus taken to the mouth for rumination ; but if any portio'n of the 
contents of the said stomach be forced out betw^een the two longi¬ 
tudinal bands, it then comes into the true passage to the third 
stomach. 
On something like this principle I account for medicine being 
at times rejected by the first stomach. There appears to be a 
state when the stomach is overloaded, and rumination ceases; 
that the power to draw together the two muscular pillars is uncon¬ 
sciously put into action, and the consequence appears to be, the 
flowing on of the fluid given into the last stomach. 
In most cases, after death the contents of the first stomach will 
be found to contain, comparatively, but a small quantity of fluid, 
while that of the abomasum, or true stomach, will be found to be 
nearly in a liquid state; and from this cause, coupled with the 
fact, that medicines have been frequently found in the fourth 
stomach, that had appeared never to have entered the two first, 
has arisen the idea. I have no doubt that this is the natural 
course of fluids taken in by ruminant animals. But whoever 
will take the trouble to administer a fluid to them (in a state of 
health), mixed with something by which he can ascertain its 
exact direction, wull find that the bulk of the quantity given 
• will fall into the rumen, though the other stomachs will gene¬ 
rally contain a proportion of the same. This clearly shews, that 
whoever would efficiently piy into the secrets of nature must not 
rest satisfied with examining her alone in the untoward state of 
disease, but also in health, when all her faculties act with vigor 
and precision. 
By the way, I would recommend the adoption of linseed gruel, 
as a vehicle in which to administer most medicines given to 
