258 



A DICTIONARY. 



Illations. Secondly, I would observe, that 

 punctures and partial divisions of nerves 

 heal in the same way as when there has 

 been a total division ; and that, even on 

 the first infliction of the wounds, the func- 

 tion of the nerves is very little impaired." 

 (See Swan's work on morbid local affec- 

 tions.) 



Mr. Sewell finds " that, in cases of entire 

 section of a nerve, sensation returns in 

 about two months ; but in others, in which 

 a portion of nerve has been exercised, that 

 the period of restoring feeling can by no 

 means be foretold : in one of his own 

 horses, he ascertained that there was no 

 sensibility in the foot, even at the expiration 

 of three years ; and in some others, after a 

 longer interval, the organ appeared to be 

 wholly destitute of feeling." 



Nicking. — An operation often performed 

 on horses, to raise the tail, and make them 

 carry it more gracefully, or rather to suit 

 the taste of man. 



Nippers. — The front teeth, above and 

 below, have been thus named. 



Nitre. — IVIr. Morton writes : " Nitre 

 given internally is a febrifuge and diuretic. 

 The dose is from two to four drachms. In 

 order to obtain its full effect as a febrifuge, 

 it should be exhibited in the form of ball, so 

 that it may undergo solution in the stom- 

 ach ; but as a diuretic, it is best given in 

 solution. It passes to the kidneys un- 

 changed, and its presence may be readily 

 detected in the urine by means of bibulous 

 paper immersed in it, which, on being 

 dried, deflagrates ; or, if the quantity given 

 be great, it may be procured in crystals 

 from the urine. Very large doses of this 

 salt act as an irritating poison. Two 

 pounds being given in sbc pints of water to 

 a horse, apparently in health, within half an 

 hour irritation of the mucous lining of the 

 alimentary canal began, evidenced by the 

 faeces being voided frequently and in small 

 quantities. The kidneys were soon after 

 excited into increased action, the urine being 

 forcibly expelled, and the act accompanied 

 with uneasiness. In about four hours after, 

 the pulse had risen to nearly double the 



number of beats, and the visible mucous 

 membranes were highly injected. Blood 

 being withdrawn from the jugular vein, it 

 presented all the appearances of arterial 

 blood. In the serum the existence of the 

 salt could be detected, but it was obtained 

 in abundance from the urine. From this 

 period the symptoms became less urgent, 

 and the pulse gradually regained its healthy 

 standard; but the dung and urine continued 

 to be passed more frequently than natural 

 throughout the day. 



Externally a]:)pMed, nitrate of potassa is a 

 valuable stimulant to wounds, and it may 

 be employed with much benefit when gan- 

 grene has taken place. For this purpose, 

 a saturated solution is ordered to be kept in 

 the pharmacy. 



Oats. — According to Sir H. Davy's 

 analysis, oats contain 742 parts of nutritive 

 matter out of 1000, which is composed of 

 641 mucilage, or starch, 15 saccharine 

 matter, and 87 gluten, or albumen. New 

 oats are difficult of digestion. 



Oblique Muscles. — The muscles of 

 the abdomen, or belly, are thus named. 

 There are four of them ; two external and 

 two internal. Some of the muscles of the 

 eye are also named oblique muscles. 



Occiput. — The back part of the head. 



CEdema. — A watery or dropsical swell- 

 ing. 



CEsoPHAGus, or Esophagus. — The tube 

 passing from the mouth to the stomach. 



Ointments. — Unctuous substances of 

 the consistence of butter ; when made con- 

 siderably thinner by the addition of oil, 

 they are termed liniments ; but when their 

 solidity is increased by wax, rosin, etc., 

 they are termed plasters. 



Olecranon. — The head of the bone 

 named ulnar (see cut), in the horse ; it 

 affords a powerful lever for the triceps ex- 

 tensor cubiti muscle to act upon, in straight- 

 ening the fore arm upon the humerus. 

 (See Skeleton.) 



Olfactory Nerves are spread over all 

 the interior of the nostril, and constitute 

 the sense of smell. 



Omentum. — The omentum, or caul, is a 



