214 NERVES, GLANDS, SECRETION. 



If the nerve supplying one of the fingers is cut 

 through, that finger is no longer sensible ; we may 

 prick it, or crush it, and feel no pain. 



Besides this, we can no longer move it, as the 

 nerves are the medium by which we will, or call 

 muscles into play. We thus see that a person who 

 labours under palsy, which is a disease of the brain 

 or spinal marrow, from which nerves proceed, can- 

 not move the affected limb ; it hangs down quite 

 powerless and useless. 



Every part of our body, except the hair, the 

 nails, the bones, and some others, is full of nervous 

 twigs or filaments. We cannot cut or scratch our- 

 selves anywhere without feeling pain. We should 

 not suffer this, were it not that a nerve is cut or 

 torn. 



We find, in certain parts of our system, small, 

 roundish, or oval bodies, abundantly supplied with 

 blood vessels and nerves. These are glands. 

 When we have a bad cold and sore throat, many 

 of these may be felt about the neck, as they swell 

 and become painful at these times. The breast is 

 also a gland, and there are many others in various 

 places. When we examine them, we see many 

 vessels going from them, which, in some instances, 

 unite and form what is called a duct, or outlet. 



These glands are the parts of secretion. A 

 secretion means a peculiar fluid made from the 

 blood, as the saliva, the tears, bile, and others. 

 The gland secreting the saliva lies on the cheek, 

 just before the ear, and the duct opens in the 



