Disintegration of Cell-Wall Substances in the Gastro-Intestinal Tract of Herbivora

Abstract

THE process of cellulose digestion in herbivora, in addition to its economic importance, throws considerable light on a number of cognate biological topics. Biochemical aspects of the problem have received considerable attention. Pure cultural investigations have been attempted though it is questionable whether the species isolated in vitro are those primarily concerned with the process taking place in vivo. It is therefore remarkable that so few attempts have been made to study the changes occurring in situ by direct microscopical observation. This method has been successfully applied by us to material derived from the cæcum of non-ruminant herbivora.