Gut flora were once thought to be harmless residents of the guts of mammals, and in time it became clear that they not only aid in digestion but also protect against the arrival of more harmful invaders.
Gallstone pancreatitis is a condition in which a gallstone blocks a duct of the pancreas, a gland that produces enzymes that aid in the digestion of food.
Ambergris is a natural excrement thought to be used by the whale as a digestionaid and is expelled from its abdomen often while hundreds of miles away from land.