386 G. A. Rowell ofi the 



complete change in my opinions on the use and distribution 

 of the sense of pain, that, so far from considering it an inflic- 

 tion, I now believe it to be one of the most necessary senses 

 we possess ; that, like all other senses, it is given to animals 

 in as great a degree as it is necessary and useful to them ; 

 that no animals have a greater sense of pain than is neces- 

 sary for the preservation of the class to which they belong ; 

 that those which are designed for food, suffer little when 

 killed, in comparison to what other animals would feel from 

 the same infliction ; and that some are totally devoid of the 

 sense of pain. 



In submitting this paper to the consideration of the Ash- 

 molean Society, I beg to state distinctly, that I do not pre- 

 tend to any knowledge of anatomy, but have been led to my 

 conclusions by what appears to be the effect of injuries to dif- 

 ferent animals. I do not attempt to assign any cause for the 

 difi^erence of the amount of pain, whether it be that the nerves 

 are less sensitive, or less numerous in some classes than in 

 others, or whether it is owing to the want of reflecting facul- 

 ties, but only to shew that there is such a diff'erence. 



I do not know that there is any thing new in the opinions I 

 advance; but as I have had more than ordinary opportunities of 

 witnessing the efl'ect of wounds on some classes of animals, 

 I submit this paper, believing that the consideration of the 

 subject is calculated, in the highest degree, to excite feelings 

 of gratitude and admiration of the merciful designs of Provi- 

 dence ; and as the discovery of the use of the vapour of ether 

 has recently brought the sense of pain under the considera- 

 tion of this Society, I hope the paper will be in some degree 

 interesting. 



There can be little doubt that the sense of pain is of the 

 first importance to mail, to guard and warn him from injury. 

 The skin is very sensitive, the body being thus enveloped in 

 a membrane susceptible of the slightest injury, while the 

 heart, lungs, brain, and other vital internal parts that are 

 thus guarded, are almost insensible ; but although the lungs 

 are, in a great degree, insensible of pain during consumption, 

 they are extremely sensible of the impurities of the air, thus 

 guarding against the inhalation of anything injurious. As 



