The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-02-14
FOUR sroMAcHs.
Something About the Animals Tint Arc Thus
Endowed.

bemething ABOUT the Animals INT Arc thus
Endewsd.
Cows. sheep. goats. camels and
CRATES are endowed with what at FIST
thought may be regarded as stoma III
extravaganza. In addition 10 these
animals. the four stomach apparatus is
found In such wild creatures as the
buffalo aud all the members Of the
deer family; but 1t is not found outside
Of the order technically called
ruminantia. and commonly known as
cud-chewing animals.
The operation Of this complicated
member is very interesting. In the
infancy Of the animal. before the wean-
ing period. only one OF the four
stomachs is used. This is what In the
adult Is called the fourth or last one.
But when the time comes for changing
the diet from milk to heritage the
three hitherto disused stomachs are
put to work.
The grass cropped by the COW. for
example, Is not chewed at once, but is
passed dire city into the large stomach
number one. II the COW were killed
Immediately afterward the grass would
be found practic ally the same as II 1t
had been cut with scythe. But after
remaining there awhile it is moistened
with sort OF saliva and then passed
into the second stomach. This one is
sometimes called the honeycomb
stomach, because of it's cellular forma-
ton on the inside. Its appearance is
familiar to lovers OF tripe.
At this stage OF the process nature
has provided surprising arrange
ment The moistened grass is now
rolled about over the honeyco mbed
surface until it Is made into quite
compact balls. Then these balls are
in turn passed up into the mouth and
there leisurely ohewed. After this
has been thoroughly done the mass
starts downward again and fetches up
in the third stomach. In this are
great many folds wherein tho food is
put through course OF kneading and
crushing. Finally it passes TO the
fourth stomach, the one TO which the
milk goes directly in calfhood, and
this stomach corresponds to the one
In human kind. where gastric juice is
mingled with the food.
But why would not a single stomach,
like that which answers so we'll for
humanity. also do for the COW and
other animals of the ruminan tiap
In the answer you will find another
example OF the fact that nature makes
no mistakes. The ruminantia, in the
| first place. are timid animals, always
glad to flee from danger, and never
combative except in self-defense.
Secondly, 1t requires the greater
part Of their time to crop heritage
enough to sustain life. The COW.
browsing in good pasture, will keep
on eating during the greater part OF
the day.
In their wild state, however, ami
mails OF this class do not get selected
pastures, and they generally have to
make the best Of their business hours
In grass clipping. Well, in their ma
tive wilds these animals are cons family
menaced by carnivorous, or flesh eat
ing, animals, including man. Driven
from their Browsing places. they
might starve before they could safely
return. Here appears the wisdom
shown in the mysterious stomachs.
The COW or the sheen nv harl work
on the ten-hour system OF labor, can
clip enough grass no keep the digestive
machinery in fair supply for three
days. With this beneficent provision
the wild members OF the class can flee
to barren mountains when pursued
and live on the supplies stored in the
first stomach until it is safe to return
TO the browsing ground.
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