238 
THE VETERINARY ART IN INDIA. 
called cerebrum, furnishes the head, neck, and part of the 
breast. 
Nerves are small bundles of cylindrical tubes, terminating in 
every sensible part of the body, the functions of which are to 
produce motion and convey sensation to the brain, from which 
they all originate. I believe the cerebrum, as in the human sub- 
ject, furnishes ten pair of nerves, which supply the head, as the 
optic, which convey the sense of vision, the olfactory the sense 
of smell ; others the sense of hearing, taste, &c. Branches are 
also supplied to the windpipe, throat, heart, and breast, and 
which, from their frequent communication, produce that sympa- 
thy which is observed : for example, acrid substances received 
by the nose will produce sneezing, which is an affection of the 
chest, and is in consequence of the same nerve which supplies 
the nostrils also sending branches to the midriff. They usually 
accompany the bloodvessels and spread over the most minute 
part of the body. 
The spinal marrow, I believe, produces thirty pair of nerves, 
as in the human subject, for the supply of sensation and motion 
to the trunk of the body and inferior extremities. 
The mode by which sensation is conveyed from the various 
parts of the body to the brain with such inconceivable rapidity 
has excited the astonishment, and afforded much speculation to 
the philosophers of every age. Some imagined it to be the effect 
of vibration, as their course is straighter than the bloodvessels ; 
others, with more propriety, attributed it to their circulating some 
very subtle fluid, which, by experiments that have since been 
made, is, I believe, satisfactorily attested : yet many difficulties 
exist, as no cavities have been discovered by the finest glasses. 
It is possible the larger animals, as the camel or elephant, possess- 
ing larger nerves, might afford an easier scope for investigating 
this point, although I think it very probable that nerves may 
circulate or conduct subtle fluid without possessing any cavities. 
The recent discovery of elastic fluids has thrown some light 
on this wonderful property of nerves, and may, possibly, lead to 
more satisfactory explanations. I before mentioned that some 
curious experiments had proved that they circulated a fluid (vide 
Cheselden’s Anatomy), which fluid must be the medium of that 
wonderful and inconceivable velocity by which sensation is con- 
veyed to the brain, as is observed when any substance is touched 
at the extremities at the same instant the impulse is received on 
the brain. Nothing but the electric fluid is known that could 
possibly possess this rapid conveyance, which opinion is rendered 
still more plausible by that celebrated and indefatigable anato- 
mist, Mr. John Hunter, who discovered that the torpedo derives 
