276 MY SOMALI BOOK 



One suggestion made to me is that the shock-effect 

 of a large bullet is due to the fact that " the skin, 

 bones, and outer portions of animals generally are 

 plentifully provided with nerves to a much greater 

 extent than the deep-seated organs," the consequence 

 of which is " a greater effect of a large entrance wound 

 on the nervous system." There may be something in 

 this theor}^, but I cannot attach a great deal of import- 

 ance to it : otherwise one would expect to find a large 

 surface wound caused by a bullet exploding or breaking 

 up immediately after impact producing the maximum 

 of shock-effect, a result contrary to all experience. 



I have no idea of denying power of causing shock 

 to high velocity bullets. But the shock caused by 

 them is, I think, due entirely, or almost entirely, to 

 momentum, and appears to affect the animal somewhat 

 differently, not having the same knocking-down effect. 

 And it must be remembered that the increase in 

 momentum given by a high velocity is lessened by the 

 decrease in weight usually necessary to produce that 

 velocity. For the same purpose the diameter of the 

 bullet is made smaller, with the result of loss of shock- 

 effect due to decrease in the resistance to, and dis- 

 placement of tissue by, a smaller striking-surface. 

 Consequently it is only in so far as it is accompanied 

 by sufficient bullet weight to cause adequate momentum- 

 shock, and large enough striking surface to produce 

 what we may call " displacement-shock," that high 

 velocity is of value as a factor in producing shock- 

 effect. While, unless this is very great, the impact- 

 shock of a slower but a sufficiently substantial bullet 

 is likely to produce a greater immediate effect. 



