Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

332 CATTLE.
to be united together, and enfolded in one lommon expansion of the
mesentery. They lie on the right side of the belly, occupying- the
flank, and resting upon the right portion of the rumen. The jejunum
and the ileum constitute the border of this mesenteric expansion,
and are disposed in the form of numerous spiral convolutions. If
they were unfolded, the length of these intestines would, in an ox
of common size, amount to more than one hundred * feet. This
length of small intestine is designed to compensate for the want of
development and of cells in the larger ones. The food is detained
by the length of the passage, and also by the construction of the
convolutions. The principal absorption of chyle takes place in
them.
THE CAECUM.
It describes a considerable arch (see fig. 4, p. 330,) the superior
extremity of which is fixed to the portion of mesentery common to
' it and the small intestines, while the inferior portion floats loose in
the abdomen, and is prolonged into the pelvic cavity, where it has a
rounded termination. The portion of food that can enter into it "is
small, and cannot be detained long there, because there are no lon-
gitudinal bands to pucker the intestine into numerous and deep cells
but the contents of the caecum have the character of being more fluid
than in any other part of the intestinal
csecum seldom exceeds a yard.
canal. The length of the
THE COLON.
This intestine is evidently divisible into two parts, (see fig. 5.
p. 330 ;) the one smaller than the caecum is supported by the common
mesentery ; the other floats loose in the belly, and forms part of
the second mass of intestines. It has convolutions, but is destitute
of muscular bands. It is less than the csecum, but combined with
the next and the last intestine, the rectum, it measures more than
thirty-three feet. The want of mechanical obstruction to the passage
of the food is thus made up by the increased length of the
viscera. In the colon, the process of digestion may be considered to
be in a manner terminated, and all that remains is faaculent matter,
that continues to be urged on in order to be expelled.-
THE RECTUM.
This intestine, so called from the straight course which it runs,
terminates the digestive canal. It has no longitudinal bands, for it
contains little beside the excrement that is to be discharged, or that
should least of all be detained. The lacteal absorbents may still be
traced in this intestine, but it is probable that very little nutritive
matter is taken up, although, from the occasional hardened state of
the dung, it is possible that much fluid may be carried off.
;