72 



" The nervous system may be divided, for the convenience of 

 description into : 



i. The brain. 



2. The spinal cord. 



3. The cranial nerves. 



4. The spinal nerves. 



5. The sympathetic system. 



" It is by means of the brain and its nerves, the spinal cord 

 and its nerves, and the sympathetic system, that the relations 

 I have stated are maintained. 



"The sympathetic nervous system is distributed to the heart 

 and to the blood-vessels throughout the body ; and also those 

 various organs, the aggregate of which is called the ''organic 

 sphere ' of the animal's body. 



" The brain and its nerves and the spinal cord and its nerves 

 preside over the sensory and locomotive spheres of the animal, 

 while, in addition the two systems exchange filaments with each 

 other ; and thus the whole is balanced in every part in a man- 

 ner which cannot fail to excite the wonder and admiration of 

 every beholder." 



The importance of a due appreciation of normal and dis- 

 eased conditions of the nerves in relation to the foot of the 

 horse connot be overestimated. Causes apparently the most 

 trivial, affecting the sensory nerves of the foot produce effects 

 of the most destructive nature to the entire animal economy. 



DISTRIBUTIVE ARRANGEMENT OF THE NERVES OF THE FOOT.' 



Before I advert to some physiolgical and pathological facts, 

 having immediate reference to the nerves of the feet, to which 

 I have to call the attention of my readers generally, and to 

 veterinary surgeons particularly, I will dispose of the merely 

 distributive arrangement of the nerves of that organ. 



Quoting Spooner: "The nerves of the fore extremity are 

 derived from the humeral plexus, which is formed by branches 

 from the fifth, sixth and seventh cervical and first dorsal nerves.. 



