368 INFLUENCE OF THE BRAIIT ON THE ACTION OF THE HEART. 



Ko animal heat In this last experiment, as may be seen from the aboTe 

 SSd^byUJ?'"^ table, the difference in the temperature of the two rabbits, 

 fpiration. at the end of an hour and a half in the rectum, was half a 



degree, and in the thorax two degrees and a half; whereas, 

 Ip the preceding experiment, at the end of an hour and 

 forty minutes, the difference in the rectum was 2^ degrees, 

 and in the thorax 3 degrees. It appears, therefore, that 

 the rabbit in which the circulation was maintained by arti- 

 ficial respiration cooled more rapidly on the whole, than 

 <he rabbit whose lungs were inflated in the same manner 

 after the circulation had ceased. This is what might be 

 expected if no heat was produced by the chemical action of 

 the air on the blood ; since in the last case the cold air was 

 always applied to the same surface, but in the former it 

 -was applied always to fresh portions of blood, by which 

 its cooling powers were communicated to the more distant 

 parts of the body. 



In the course of the experiments which I have related, I 

 was much indebted to several members of the Society for 

 promoting the Knowledge of Animal Chemistry, for many 

 important suggestions, which have assisted me in prosecut- 

 ing the inquiry. Mr. Home, at my request, was present 

 at the seventh experiment. Dr. E. N. Bancroft was pre- 

 sent ^t, and assisted me in the second experiment : and Mr. 

 William Brande lent me his assistance in the greater part of 

 those which were made. I have been farther assisted in 

 making the experiments by Mr. Broughton, surgeon of the 

 Dorsetshire regiment of militia, and Mr. Richard Rawlins, 

 and Mr Robert Gatcombe, students in surgery. 

 Kany other ex- I have selected the above from a great number of similar 



penments gave experiments, which it would be needless to detail. It is 

 nmilar results. L . . , , , , , 



sufficient to state, that the general results were always the 



same; and that, whether the pulse was frequent or slow, 

 full, or small, or whether the respirations were frequent or 

 otherwise, there was no perceptible difference in the cool- 

 ing of the animal. 

 General con- From the whole we may deduce the following con- 

 clusions, elusions: 



1. The influence of the brain is not directly necessary to 

 the action of the heart. 



2.When 



