The comparative anatomy of the stomachs and guts begun. Being several lectures read before the Royal Society. In the year 1676. / By Nehemiah Grew M.D. ...

CHAP. I. Of the Stomachs and Guts of Six Carnivorous Quadrupeds; sc. The Weesle, Fitchet, Polecat, Cat, Dog and Fox. (Book 1)

I Am not ignorant of what many Learned and Inquisi∣tive Men, both at home and abroad, especially in this last Century, have performed in the Anatomy of Ani∣mals. After all whom, if it be demanded, what is left for me to do? I Answer in the words of Seneca, * 1.1 Multum adhuc restat operis, multúm{que} restabit; nec ulli Nato, post mille Saecula, praecludetur occasio, aliquid adhuc adjiciendi.

I shall omit most of what is already noted by Anatomists; and princially speak of those things, which have hitherto been unobserv'd.

A Weesle.

The Gulet of a Weesle (which from the Ears to the set∣ting on of the Tail was 10 inches) about five inches long, ¼ in Diametre, equally wide, and thin. Enters the Stomach at the left End.

The Stomach about three inches long; proportionably, more than a Dogs. An inch in Diametre at the upper Ori∣fice; at the nether, ¼; having a flexure towards its Con∣junction with the Guts: shaped like to the body of a pair of Bag-Pipes. Thin, and plain, or without Folds. Which seems to be the property of the Stomachs of most Rapaci∣ous Quadrupeds.

The Guts thin, and plain, or with little store of Glands, especially of such as in most Carnivorous Animals are con∣spicuous. About a yard in length, and ½ an inch in Dia∣metre; without any considerable contraction, difference of Size, Texture or Substance from the Stomach to the Anus. No Colon. No Caecum. So that it seems to be all but One single Gut. Contrary to what is seen in any other Quadru∣ped, I have opened.

At the Anus, a Couple of Bags grow to the Gut; one

on each side. Each of them, fill'd, about the bigness of a large Garden-Peas: containing a yellow, and thickish Li∣quor, extraordinary foetid, and having the peculiar scent of the Animal in the most intense degree. Over the Bags or Bladders, is spread the Sphincter-Muscle; which compressing Them and the Anus both together, forceth them to a con∣temporary evacution.

I have not yet dissected the Civet-Cat, but suppose, that these Bags are analogous to those that contain the Civet in that Animal.

These Bags, so far as I have observ'd, are proper to all Carnivorous Quadrupeds, and those only: as will further appear by the following Examples.

A Fitchet.

A FITCHET, being of kin to the Weesle; hath also a Stomach and Guts much alike.

The Guts about a yard and two inches. At most, but two. The first, about two feet and ½ long; and ⅜^ths of an inch over, where widest. Hath five or six Necks or Con∣tractions. And a little before most of them, stands a small Cluster of Glands, about as big as a Silver Half-peny. The second, is about ½ a quarter of a yard long, and ½ an inch over where widest. Very thin, plain, and without any Glands visible to the bare Eye.

On each side the Anus, there is also a Bag of foetid Liquor, with the stink of the Animal.

The Guts of these Two Animals, and I suppose like∣wise of the Ferret, are the most simple, and plain, of all I have observ'd in Quadrupeds.

A Pole-Cat.

The Gulet and Stomach of a POLE-CAT, are in shape like those of a Weesle. But the Guts are different.

They may be reckon'd, four. The first, about ¾ of a yard long; ½ an inch over; very thin, and plain.

The second, ¼ of a yard in length; ¼ of an inch over, and in some places more. This Gut is Glandulous and very thick, in comparison with the other, from end to end. The

Glands extream small, no bigger than little Pins heads. Yet every Gland hath its Orifice, out of which a Mucus or Pituita may be visibly squeez'd.

The Third, is ½ a yard long; and about ½ an inch over, as the first. About the middle hereof, is a Cluster (of petite Glands) about two inches long, and ¼ of an inch broad. At the further end also, joyning to the fourth Gut, is ano∣ther like Cluster, but as broad again. Each Gland in both these Clusters, is about the bigness of a Mustard-Seed.

Each of these Clusters, may be called a little PANCREAS INTESTINALE. Their difference is, That This hath not one common Ductus.

Of these Clusters, it is observable, That both here, and in all the other Animals hereafter mention'd, they stand directly opposite to that side of the Gut, into which the Vessels are inserted.

The Fourth, or Rectum, is separated from the former by a Contraction. Almost five inches long; and near the Anus, ¾ of an inch in Diametre. So that all the Guts together, are two yards, within ½ a quarter.

This Animal hath neither Colon, nor Caecum.

At the Anus, a pair of Bladders grow to the Gut, as in a Weesle; containing also a Liquor with the peculiar faetor of the Animal, most intense.

A Cat.

The Gulet of a well grown CAT, ¾ of an inch, where widest. The Texture two-fold. The Muscular Fibers of the upper half next the Throat, plainly Platted. A sort of Work, which will best be seen in the Gulet of a Sheep. Those of the other half, rather Annular, though not exactly so.

The Stomach in shape like that of a Dog, and most other Carnivorous Quadrupeds; only somewhat shorter and rounder; being not above five inches long, yet 3½ over.

But in the Guts divers Specialties are observable. Alto∣gether, about two yards and ¾ long. With respect to their substance, but two in number: To their shape, the first may be subdivided into four.

This first may be called Musculare: being in proportion, thicker or more carneous than the Guts of any Quadruped I have open'd.

It hath about 28 or 30 Contractions; some an inch, others two or three inches distant one from another. I have not seen a quarter so many in any other Animal. It may be subdivided into four.

The First, i. e. from the Stomach to the place where the Gut is considerably amplify'd, about a ¼ of a yard; and some∣what more than ¼ of an inch, over.

The Second, i. e. to the place where more conspicuously contracted, about ½ a yard; and in its widest place, above ½ an inch, over.

The Third, i. e. to the next greater dilatation, a yard and ⅛^th; and ⅜^ths of an inch, over; near the same width with that of the first.

The Fourth, about ½ a yard and ½^th; and ½ inch, over. So that two slender, and two ample ones are reciprocally joyn'd.

This Intest. Musculare, is furnished with several Clusters of Glands, six or seven in number: each Cluster about ¾ of an inch long; and the last above three inches. This espe∣cially, as in the Pole-Cat, may be called PANCREAS IN∣TESTINALE.

The Next Gut (in the place of the Rectum) may be called Membranaceum, in distinction from the former; be∣ing far more perspicuous and thin. About ½ a yard long; and where widest, an inch and ¼, over. So that its hollow is more than four times as great as of any part of the Intest. Mus∣culare; and eight or ten times as great as of the small parts. And doth therefore contain far more than all that Gut.

To the undermost part of this Gut, about an inch and ½ before the Anus, is fasten'd the end of a slender Muscle; the other extremity, to one of the Vertebrae of the Loins.

This Gut is furnished with several large Glands, not stand∣ing in Clusters, but singly, as in a Fox or a Dog presently to be describ'd; but not so big.

The upper End of this Gut where it joyns to the Muscu∣lar, for the length of ¾ of an inch, is partly Conick and partly Helick; being, as it were, the beginning of a Caecum.

On each side the Anus, a Bag of foetid Liquor, as in the former Animals.

To the Guts of a Cat, I suppose those of a Leopard, Tiger, and Lion, may have some Analogy.

A Bitch.

The Gulet of a BITCH (from the top of her Head to the setting on of her Tail about ¾ of a yard) near an inch in Diametre. Somewhat thick, redish, and muscular.

The Stomach shaped as a Cats, saving that it is a little longer. In length, nine inches; in breadth, six; in depth, as much. Somewhat Muscular, as the Gulet. Not very visibly Glandulous, except near the lower Orifice. Where, for the space of three or four inches, are a great number of small Glands, yet fairly observable round about.

The Guts are Four. The Frist, or Crassum, two yards and ½, and near an inch over, where widest.

The Second, or Tenue, about a yard and ¾ long, and somewhat more than ½ an inch wide.

The Third, or Caecum, where widest, near an inch; and about ½ a foot long; but winding with three flexures, three several ways. Not joyned to the Tenue, but the Rectum; and so postur'd, as to make an acute Angle not with the Rectum, but the Tenue; in other Animals. And the passage between This and the Rectum somewhat straight.

The Fourth, or Rectum, half a yard; next the Caecum, an inch over; near the Anus an inch and ¾. All the Guts toge∣ther, near five yards.

This only, of the Animals yet mention'd, hath a Caecum. Yet without a Colon.

The Guts of this Animal, as well as the Gulet, are all of them thick, redish, and Muscular. The like, I suppose, are those of all Ossivorous Quadrupeds.

They are furnished with store of Glands. In the Caecum, at several distances from ⅛^th to ⅜^ths of an inch. Very conspicu∣ous to the naked Eye, even after they are blown up and dry'd. In the two foremost, they stand in Clusters; and the Clusters in all, about 20. Some of them round, as big as a Silver Peny or Two-peny; and some Oval, the compass of an Almond: and some, especially towards the Caecum, two

or three inches long, and ½ an inch broad. Every Gland, as big as a Turnep-Seed. The Caecum besprinkled with Flat Glands, the breadth of a Marshmallow-Seed or little Spangle. And so the Rectum, especially towards the Anus; but here big.

In the centre of these Flat Glands, the Orifice, or if you will the Anus of every Gland is very conspicuous: by which the Gland speweth out a certain Mucus or Pituita; as by compressing the Gut may be easily seen.

So that although the Glands of the Stomach and Guts, especially in Men and Quadrupeds, seem to lie behind, or under the inner Membrane: yet the Mouths of them all, do open into the Hollow of the Stomach and Guts. The Pituita which is always found very copious in both, not being half of it, the spittle, or bred of the Aliment, as is ge∣nerally conceiv'd; but spewed out of these Glands.

At the Anus, are two Bags of stinking Liquor, as in the aforesaid Animals.

A Fox.

The Gulet, Stomach and Guts of a FOX, (½ a year old, and ½ yard from Head to Tail) are much like to those of a Dog. But with some differences. The Gulet, in proportion, somewhat larger. The Stomach deeper.

The first Gut, or the Crassum, far shorter, not above ½ a foot. The second, or the Tenue, somewhat wider. The Caecum, much larger; near ¾ of a foot long. It lies not strait out, but is wound up almost spirally. Where it joyn∣eth to the other Guts, ½ an inch over; at the other End, near an inch.

The Guts furnished with several Clusters of Glands, as in a Dog, about 14 in number. That next the Caecum four inches long, and above ½ an inch broad. Before every large Cluster is a little Contraction in the Gut. In the Caecum and Rectum much larger than in the Bitch.

I suppose it is proper to all other Ossivorous Animals, for the Rectum to be furnish'd with such Glands.

Just upon the Anus lie two Bags of stinking Liquor, as in the Animals above-said.

Notes

• * 1.1

  (a) Epist. 64.