rds or
gluttons.

* * * * *

QUESTIONS ON THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS AND DIGESTION.

What happens to the food after it is chewed?--"It is rolled by my tongue
into the oesophagus or food-pipe."

Where is the oesophagus or food-pipe?--"It passes from the mouth down the
left side of the spine."

What is the stomach?--"A fleshy bag which receives and changes the food we
eat."

Where is the stomach?--"In the front part of the chest, below the heart and
lungs."

Of what is the stomach composed?--"Of three coats or membranes."

What do you mean by composed?--"Made of."

What do you mean by membrane?--"A thin skin."

What are the coats of the stomach called?--"The outer coat, the middle
coat, the inner coat."

Describe the outer coat of the stomach.--"The outer coat is smooth, thick,
and tough."

Of what use is the outer coat of the stomach?--"It strengthens and supports
the stomach."

What do you mean by supports?--"Holds."

Describe the middle coat of the stomach.--"The middle coat is composed of
fleshy fibres, which have the power of making themselves long or short."

What do you mean by fibrous?--"Composed of threads."

What do you mean by fibres?--"Threads."

Of what are the fibres of the stomach composed?--"Of flesh."

Of what use are the fibres of the stomach?--"They press upon the food, and
push it toward the opening which leads out of the stomach."

Describe the inner coat of the stomach.--"The inner coat is soft, thick,
spongy, and wrinkled."

Of what use is the inner coat of the stomach?--"It prepares a slimy
substance and a fluid."

Of what use is the slimy substance?--"It prevents the stomach from being
irritated by the food."

Of what use is the fluid?--"It dissolves the food."

What do you mean by slimy?--"Soft, moist, and sticky."

What do you mean by irritate?--"To produce unhealthy action."

What do you mean by dissolves?--"Melts."

Where is the food changed after it is taken into the mouth?--"First it is
changed in the mouth; second, it is changed in the stomach; third, it is
changed after leaving the stomach; fourth, it is changed in the lungs."

By what is it changed in the mouth?--"By the action of the teeth and the
saliva."

By what is it changed in the stomach?--"By the action of the stomach and a
kind of fluid called gastric juice."

By what is it changed after leaving the stomach?--"By the action of the
bile and the pancreatic juice."

B