On a demurrer (unless it be to a plea in abatement), the court shall not regard any defect or imperfection in the declaration or other pleading, whether it has heretofore been deemed mispleading or insufficient pleading or not, unless there be omitted something so essential to the action or defense that judgment, according to law and the very right of the cause, cannot be given. No demurrer shall be sustained because of the omission in any pleading of the words, "this he is ready to verify," or "this he is ready to verify by the record," or "as appears by the record"; but the opposite party may be excused from replying, demurring or otherwise answering to any pleading, which ought to have, but has not, such words therein, until they be inserted.