246 On the Torpidity of Monkeys and other Animals, 



I flatter myself that the results of my observations will 

 communicate to the learned the principal phaenomena which 

 attend the lethargy of these mammifcrous animals, the order 

 pursued by their principal organic functions, and the nature 

 of the action of a high or low temperature upon their in-^ 

 ternal oeconomy. 



I shall say nothing of the habits of these animals in the 

 jiatural state, and in the state of slavery ; I shall perhaps 

 have occasion to speak of this at another time :^— at present 

 I mean to confine myself to an account of what I have ob- 

 §erved tn monkeys, which are the most remarkable^ among 

 the animals subject to periodical lethargy. ^ 



The principal object of my observations has been to ex-? 

 amine the various phaenomena presented by monkeys during 

 their lethargy, far different from the mortal lethargy, which 

 may take place in all animals from the effects of cold. I 

 have particularly studied the progress of their principal or^ 

 ganic functions, because physiologists are generally at va- 

 riance upon this subject; some pretending that these func-» 

 tions are entirely suspended, and others that they continue, 

 although in a languishing manner, scarcely sufficient to evince 

 the existence of the vital principle. 



A celebrated naturalist of the last century expresses him^ 

 self in the following manner :-r- 



*^ When sleep commences, the respiration then becomes 

 less ; it ceases when the lethargy is complete. The eyes of 

 the monkey are then closed, its body is bent in the form of 

 a bow, it is immoveable and entirely cold. We may roll it 

 about, throw it up into the air, and use it ill without giving 

 the smallest signs of life.'' The same author asserts that a 

 sharper degree of cold, in place of awakening monkeys, ren- 

 ders their lethargy much more profound. 



I shall not quote what other authors have since written 

 upon the subject, as it is evident they have not made the 

 observations necessary to enable them to decide upon the 

 cause. 



On the first of December 1803, there were brought to me 

 at Milan three male moi^keys, taken in the Alps which se- 

 parate 



