THE VETERINARY ART IN INDIA. 239 
its power from the nerves being very numerous and distributed 
principally on the surface of the body. 
Still further experiments have been proved to illustrate this 
very interesting theory. Professor Galvani, of Bologna, has dis- 
covered a certain influence or connexion between the loadstone 
and the animal fibre. D. Girtaner imagined the nervous fluid 
to be inflammable air ; his words are “ reflecting upon the result 
of several of my experiments, I begin to suppose that hydrogene 
air, which remains after the oxygen of the water is united to the 
irritable fibre, may serve to supply the loss of nervous fluid, or, in 
other words, 1 suppose that the nervous fluid is the hydrogene 
air, perhaps carbonic hydrogene gas. I confess this is only a 
conjecture which I am not yet able to prove, but which appears 
to me very probable. Be this, however, as it may, it is very 
certain that water is decomposed and re-composed continually 
in organized bodies: this is clear from experiments I shall here- 
after enumerate.” Another property, similar to that of galvanism, 
(perhaps the same) is discovered, or asserted to be so, by Perkins, 
of America, who pretends that a certain metallic composition has 
a considerable influence on the animal frame, and removes superfi- 
cial inflammations. I have had an opportunity of seeing and ex- 
amining several persons who have been the subjects of these 
“ metallic tractors,” and am, in consequence, inclined to believe 
it possible they may have some virtue. I must, however, ac- 
knowledge that Perkins affords ample scope for prejudice in 
making the requisite combination of metals (if a combination of 
metals is requisite) a secret or nostrum. 
It would thus appear that the nerves circulate a certain subtle 
fluid, very much resembling and being, perhaps, the electric, 
which, if proved, will account for the velocity by which sensation 
is conveyed : the principles of fire, light, electricity, the magnetic 
and nervous fluid are but little known. Future observations and 
researches may, perhaps, prove them but various combinations or 
modifications of the same principle. 
Locked Jaw. 
The nerves in the horse are subject to a dangerous disease 
termed locked jaw, improperly so called, as it is only a local 
symptom, while the disease is general. Conceiving the jaws to 
be the chief seat of disease, it was supposed that death occurred 
from want of nourishment ; but this is not the case : the animal 
positively dies from morbid irritation, or an increased action of 
the nerves exhausting the system. 
It is more frequent in hot climates than in cold. It sometimes 
succeeds violent exercise, slight wounds in a bad habit, or which 
