55G 
ON THE NERVES AND BLOODVESSELS 
ramifications, superior and anterior, which distribute themselves, 
some on the reticulum, and others on the rumen, round the ter¬ 
mination of the oesophagus, and in the inferior and anterior scis- 
sure of that stomach, in order to ramify on its left sac. Two 
other filaments likewise gain this anterior scissure, pass between 
the two lobes, and ramify on the anterior surface of the paunch. 
2d. From another plexus which this oesophagean nerve forms on 
the reticulum, five or six other nervous branches are given ofi‘, 
which arrive at the maniplus, and distribute themselves on its 
membranes. 3d. From a plexus on the maniplus other fila¬ 
ments arise, which spread themselves over that stomach : and, 
finally, from the terminal plexus, which we have already stated 
as existing on the fourth stomach, issue divers filaments, the 
greater part of which penetrate into this stomach, while others go 
to the pyloric orifice, and some to the small intestines. 
The superior oesophagean nerve, the more considerable of the 
two, is situated between the aorta and the oesophagus. It pene¬ 
trates with the latter vessel into the abdomen, gains the superior 
surface of the paunch, and forms there a vast plexus, which ex¬ 
tends from the ninth dorsal vertebra to the first lumbar, occupying 
a space of about nine centimetres (nearly three and a half inches). 
In order to form this plexus, which has for its centre a nervous 
ganglion, the superior oesophagean receives many trisplanchnic 
branches from the coeliac plexus. From this plexus, or rather 
from the two kinds of nerves crossing and mingling with each 
other, arise the following compound branches :—first, four anterior 
branches, having one common origin, reach the maniplus, the 
reticulum, and the anterior sacs of the rumen. One of these goes 
from the maniplus and the rumen to the two curvatures of the 
abomasum. Secondly, many lateral branches which diverge to 
the right and the left, over the sacs of the rumen, and also to¬ 
wards the orifice of the oesophagus. Some of these nerves anas¬ 
tomose with filaments coming from the inferior part of the oeso¬ 
phagus. Thirdly, branches which take a direction posteriorly, and 
to the left, and go to ramify over the left side of the paunch. 
Fourthly, from the posterior part of this plexus there issue three or 
four nerves also of a plexous character, which follow the superior 
fissure of the rumen, accompany the arteries, gain the posterior 
and inferior scissure of that stomach, and ramify on the surround¬ 
ing parts. Fifthly, from the same situation, but a little above the 
preceding branches, issue one or two white cords, somewhat 
flattened, which proceed to the coeliac and mesenteric plexuses. 
The abomasum also receives other retrograde branches from the 
small intestines. 
The organs of digestion in ruminants then receive,— 
