DESCRIPTION OF PLATE II. Fig. 1. Displays the anatomy of the nostril, as seen on removing the integuments and cellular substance. a. Upper lip. b. Incisive teeth. d. Alar cartilage, by some considered as two. e. Infra orbitar branch of the anterior maxillary nerve. f. Superior maxillary bone. g. Levator labii inferioris alæque nasi. h. Nasalis longus. i. Nasalis brevis. k, k. Spur-shaped cartilage, and prolongation into which the nasalis brevis is inserted. Fig. 2. Right nostril-deeper view. In this view the letters employed in describing the preceding figure also apply here. Fig. 3. Left nostril, seen from the inside, the septum and the right nostril having been removed. a. Nasal bone and lateral cartilage, or nasal peak. b, b. Superior turbinated bone. e, c, c. Inferior turbinated bone, spur-shaped cartilage, and fibrous prolongation. d. Hard palate. e. Tongue. f. Infra-orbital foramen and nerve. Fig. 4. Same nostril as the preceding, but dissected by stripping off the mucous membrane from a, a. The spur-shaped cartilage. b, b. Fan shaped muscle-the antagonist of the nasalis brevis. c. Fibro-membranous prolongation from the spur-shaped cartilage, drawn upwards with a hook, in order to put the cartilage and its internal muscle on the stretch. VOL. I.] THE VETERINARY RECORD, &c. JULY 1845. [No. 3. CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMPARATIVE ANATOMY. By DR. KNOX, F.R.S.E., Corresponding Member of the French Academy of Medicine; Lecturer on Anatomy and Physiology, &c. &c. To the Editors of "THE VETERINARY RECORD." Dear Sirs,-FROM my earliest years I have taken great interest in Comparative Anatomy; and as the anatomy of the horse, when compared with human structure, offers to the student of physiological science the additional advantage of working with materials of great practical worth, I shall be happy to assist, to the utmost of my ability, in maintaining this close union between science and practice, and with this view beg leave to forward the following brief contributions for "The Veterinary Record," a periodical so ably conducted by you. Edinburgh, March 1845. I am, yours, &c. 1. SOME REMARKS ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE NOSTRils of the HORSE. WHOEVER looks with an observing eye at the nostrils of man, or any other highly organized animal, will immediately perceive motions going on synchronously with those of breathing or of respiration. He may perceive, in fact, that the nostrils dilate, expand and open at each inspiration, subsiding at each expiration; that the action or contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles is not more regular nor more constant than the movements of the nostrils; that they are, in truth, synchronous and associated actions; that they are functions tending to one end; means used for one purpose, namely, the ready, uninterrupted, unimpeded admission of fresh air from the circumambient atmosphere into the interior of the lungs, through and by a series of tubes, cavities, and apertures nicely adjusted and adapted to the wants of the animal under every circumstance of life. This admirable play of the nostrils attracted my attention at a very early period of my anatomical studies. Here is an action, I said—an action of cartilages dependent on muscular action. Now these muscles are of necessity acted on by nerves, the facial nerve or portio dura of the seventh pair, which must unquestionably supply them with a twofold energy, or an energy of two kinds; an energy common to them with all the other branches of the same nerve over which we have a conscious control, and an energy, a respiratory energy, in connexion with the lungs and its nerves, over which we have no control; which acts rythmically, night and day, like the diaphragm and the intercostals. This was my reasoning in 1810: in 1811 I became acquainted with Mr. A. Walker, the most distinguished of all the anatomical lecturers I have ever listened to his explanation of the phenomenon escapes my recollection at the time, but I think I now know what it must have been ;—it would be founded on the original views of Protheska, Albinus, and others of that period, views embracing nearly the whole range of the respiratory vital reflex functions, call them by what name you will. But his explanation at that time escaped me; and in 1812 I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of that most amiable man and accomplished surgeon, Mr. Samuel Smith, of Leeds, and from him I learned that Mr. Charles Bell, his teacher in 1811, viewed this portio dura as a respiratory nerve, "the respiratory nerve of the face." Thirty-three years have now elapsed since this opinion was stated to me, and I entertain for it the same value I then did; that is, it was trivial, unimportant, and a mere truism; it, in truth, explained nothing. My remarks then were just as they are now. If any one doubts there being muscles associated with the respiratory movements on the face, let him look at the nostrils of a person asleep, and decide by that single remark, not only their existence but their real nature— namely, their entire independence of all voluntary control; and that such muscles acting thus on the nasal cartilages must have nervous twigs supplying them, by means of which they act, and by means of which they may be associated with the respiratory nerves, or eighth pair, no one in the least acquainted with anatomy |