DICTIONARY OF THE VETERINARY ART. 263 



of the divided portions nearer and nearer to each other. It 

 is difficult to determine, from an experiment on the limb of an 

 animal, the exact time at which the nerve again performs its 

 functions after being divided. In eight weeks after the divis- 

 ion of the sciatic nerve, I have observed a rabbit to be in some 

 degree improved in the use of its leg ; but at the end of 

 eighteen weeks it was not perfect. When the nerves of the 

 leg of a horse are divided just above the foot, they are suffi- 

 ciently restored to perform their functions, in some degree, in 

 six or eight weeks ; but it must be observed that these nerves 

 are only formed for sensation, and it is very different with 

 the nerves of nutrition, voluntary motion, &c. ; the reunion is 

 sometimes accomplished by granulations. Secondly, I would 

 observe, that punctures and partial divisions of nerves heal in 

 the same way as when there has been a total division j and 

 that, even on the first infliction of the wounds, the function 

 of the nerves is very little impaired." (See Swan's work 

 on morbid local affections.) 



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 excised, 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. 5 ' 



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 two front teeth, above and below, have 

 been thus named. 



Nitre. An indirect diuretic. It causes a large secretion 

 of urine, but does not provide for the excretion. The author 

 has in his possession the bladder of a horse, the muscular 

 fibres of which are lacerated, in consequence of over distention 

 of that organ from the use of nitre. Dr. White remarks, " I 

 have seen a dpse of four ounces given, which occasioned 



