The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-15
The Actions OF Wounded Animals.

BY noting the behavior of wounded ami
NAL very good idea of the seat and nature
OF the injury may be generally obtained. A
missile passing through portion of the brain
substance almost invariably causes instant
death. There are. however. many examples
OF recovery after such an injury scattered
through medical literature. Even in these
cases the patient is necessarily rendered I'M
conscious for many hours so that tho
hunter who intiicts such an injury
upon an animal attains his end. In
hunting dangerous game at close quarters.
then, the brain should ordinarily be the OBJ
lective point unless the bullet be very heavy
incorporation 10 the size Of the animal. 1t is
generally accessible, and. if struck, invariably
renders the game harmless A grizzly bear
with a rifle bullet through the heart may yet
live long enough to kill his de
stroyer. If at close quarters Several
such instances have occurred. With his back
with his paw. but shot in the brain ends
the battle. When, then. mammal drops
instantly on being struck and all visible
movement ceases II is fair to assume that the
BRAN OF tho cervlcal portion Of the spinal cord
has been injured. Among birds and reptiles
however. this rule does not hold In these
orders the spinal cord assumes much more ex
tensive functions. as compared with the brain
than N the mammalia. Doubtless every one has
seen bodily movements continue long after
the destruction or total separation of the
head of the snake. for instance: while tie
movements of the chicken under similar cir
cumstanoes are familiar to all. Again. in GER
tain game. the immediate effect OF in ures 10
the brain or cord may not be TO produce
complete paralysis. Birds on the wing.
struck In the head by a small shot, often
rise almost perpendicularly into the air for
an instant before falling dead. Small ami
mails may pass through series of conyulsive
movements after wound OF the Uranium. In
the rabbit. under these circumstances the
powerful contractions of the muscles of the
hind legs often throws the BODY several feet
INTO the air, but the animal Is unconscious OF
course. In the lager animals. and. il is
stated by those familiar with war. in man. a
single Jump often results from bullet wound
III the head. Ibis is evidently the analogue
OF the commissions seen IN the lower animals
the muscular contractlons originating from
tho irritation OF the motor centres of the
brain by the ball. Movements into circle. or
in aquatic birds, rotation as if upon an axis
upon the surface Of the water are often
noted. These are associated with injury
to the brain or cord. so that one-half If
the muscles of the body are cut off from com
munication with the central nervous system
The muscles If the opposite side carry the
body around III this manner. Should the Ger
veal portion Of the spinal cord lie severed the
effect would virtually be the same RS il the
Drain were INJURED the communication be-
tween the nervous centres and muscles
of the body being interru; ted Should the
wound be too hign 10 involve the yertebral
column the animal may be- merely creased.
or temporarily paralyzed by the shock given
TO the cord By the passage of the ball in such
close proximity 10 1t. When running animal |
is shot through the shoulders the propt,i.jye !
action of tho hind legs is continued tor an in |
slant longer than that Of tie front ones /
AS q result he often turns complete sOmer. /
5ault, or a series OF them. In the Jack |
rabbits of the West this result is produced |
nearly every time If one aims well ahead as |
the an mai run. the leapIng action Of the |
hind legs In this game often causes the bo,,y |
TO roll for some yards in this manner A bull |
et-w und III the heart must as rule be i'm |
fatal. In surgical literature are |
given few instances. however, in which re- |
,overy has followed such an injury. the dag |
nosis being confirmed by autopsy when the |
patient finally died. perhaps from some
totally different cause: but relatively small |
eslon IN the cardiac walls by no means
'auses the instantaneous death depicted v
he novelist as the result Of such a wound. |
\ grizzly bear has been known to travel one
iundred feet and Kill his pursuer after a ball |
rom o rlhe OF heavy calibre had passed
hfoagh his yentrlcies.-Dr J. n. Hall, in |
'crloners Magazine for October.