OCR Text |
Show 168 PROF. W. H. FLOWER ON THE MUSK-DEER. [Mar. 16, beneath the cartilages of the right ribs, scarcely passing beyond middle line. Next appeared a small portion of the abomasus emerging from beneath tbe edge of the liver and passing across to the left side. Beyond this and occupying all the middle part of the cavity from side to side was the large paunch, extending to within 4g inches of the symphysis pubis. The spleen, attached along the left side of the paunch, close to its cardiac orifice, could be seen at the diaphragmatic end of the cavity ; and the left kidney projected from behind the edge of the paunch near its hinder end. The portion of the cavity between the paunch and the pubis was filled up superficially by the coils of small intestines. The great omentum descending from the inferior border of the abomasus, extremely thin and delicate and entirely without fat, passed over the right side of the paunch and small intestines to within 2 inches of the symphysis pubis. The stomach resembles generally the figure given of it by Pallas, except that the psalterium is not so large as there represented. The drawings of the anterior and posterior surface (figs. 6 & 7), taken after it was removed from the body and moderately distended, are Fig. 6. Anterior or ventral aspect of the stomach, one fourth natural size. 0, oesophagus; Ru, rumen; a, its distal apex ; Re, reticulum; A, abomasus; p, pylorus. more correct. The coats of the organ throughout are very thin compared with those of other ruminants which I have examined. How far this might have been an individual peculiarity, or a consequence of the morbidly emaciated state of the animal, I do not know. The rumen, or paunch (Bu), is about 8 inches in transverse diameter. It has the usual form, divided by an oblique constriction |