OCR Text |
Show 1867.] DR. E. CRISP ON THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 605 side only, forming a rounded orifice, which measures about 2 inches in diameter. The third stomach is also lined with small papillee, some of which, near to the oesophageal extremity, are pointed and resemble those of some of the smaller ruminants. This cavity is furnished with seven valvular slips (3, 3, 3), varying in length from 2 to 4 inches, so as to leave pouch-like projections between ; but these, when the stomach is inflated, are seen to be of small size, although in the adult animal their dimensions may be considerable. A long crescentic-shaped valve (4) projects into the large opening between the third and fourth stomachs. The fourth and last stomach (E), like the fourth stomach of a ruminant, is quite smooth ; but it possesses no longitudinal folds as seen in the digestive stomach of rami-naiits ; the pyloric valve is of moderate thickness. At the commencement of the fourth stomach, for the space of ahout 10 square-inches, the lining membrane is smooth and white; beyond this it is red and more elevated, so that these portions of the stomach evidently perform a different function. In the third stomach I found the large round solid mass of hay and straw which I exhibit; it is about 5 inches in diameter when dried, but when first examined it was of much larger size. The valvular slips and pouch-like divisions in this cavity, which I have already described, would lead to the belief that the food might assume a globular shape in this viscus. But such an accumulation as I have mentioned must, I think, be abnormal; it will, however, be interesting to examine carefully the contents of this cavity in an adult animal. I believe that the food passes from the third to the fourth stomach in the form of pellets, and that the dry and unnatural food (hay and straw) occasioned the enlargement met with. 1 have made the subjoined sketch of the stomachs when laid open, the letters and figures already given indicate the various parts. The microscopical appearances of the intestinal tube I reserve for another paper. The intestinal tube below the stomach is of moderate calibre; the small intestines when distended measure from 1 } to lj inch in diameter. The large intestines when inflated are 3 inches in diameter, the capacity of this part of the canal amounting to about thirty-three quarts ; this added to the capacity of the stomach and oesophagus makes the total capacity of the intestinal tube about forty-nine quarts. I do not speak with perfect accuracy, but the figures are not far from correct. I scarcely need remark that the capacity after death, and when the muscles are relaxed and viscera are unconfined by the abdominal walls, greatly exceeds that during life. As I have said, there is no caecum ; but the intestine enlarges about 10 feet from the anus; and at this part is seated a large gland similar in appearance to that in the Giraffe, but of greater extent, as the drawing now exhibited (see p. 606) shows. The preparation of this gland in spirits before the Society is much contracted since its immersion, so that it gives but a very imperfect notion of its original appearance. It coders a space of about 6 square inches, and it is about 6 inches in length. The crypts or sacculi amouut to about |