The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-02-14

ssnsthiss Abest ths Animals nit Are mus
Endowed.

Endowed.
Cows sheep. goats. camels and
girafYes are endowed with what at first
thought may be regarded as stoma VI
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 II 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 ono.
But when the time comes for changing
the diet from milk 10 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 wero killed
Immediately afterward the grass would
be found practic ally the same as II IL
had been cut with a scythe. But after
remaining there awhile IL is moistcned
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 It's appearance Is
familiar TO lovers OF tripe.
| AT this stage OF the process nature
has provided a surprising arrange
ment. The moistened grass Is now
rolled about over the honeyco mbed
surface until il Is made into quite
compact balls Then these balls are
in turn passed up into the mouth and
there leisurely chewed. After this
has been thoroughly done the mass
starts downward again and fetches up
in the third stomach. In this are a
great many folds wherein the food is
put through course OF kneading and
crushing. Finally 1t passes 10 the
fourth stomach. the one to which the
milk goes directly in calihood, 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 well for
humanity. also do for the COW and
other animals OF the ruminantia?
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 selfdefense.
Secondly. IL requires the greater
4 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 gel selected
pastures, and they generally have TO
make the best OF their business hours
Ia grass clipping. Well. in their ma
tive wids 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 sheep. by 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 bcneficent provision
the wild members OF tho class can fee
20 barren mountains when pursued
and live on the supplies stored in the
first stomach until 10 is safe To return
to tho browsing ground.
!