On tlie Torpidity of Monkeys and other Animals, 251 



I would have left it an hour longer iu the same situation ; 

 but observing that its respiration continued to increase, and 

 perceiving upon touching it that the heat of its body was 

 greatly increased, I withdrew it and returned it to its usual 

 place in the roonn, I flattered myself that it would not 

 waken entirely ; but having visited it about ten o'clock, I 

 liot only found it awake, but saw that it had resumed its 

 natural heat and vivacity : it leapt suddenly from its nest 

 and hid itself among the hay as if to avoid the cold, or any 

 other accident which might take it from its gentle lethargy. 



Hence it follows, that less time is required to bring mon». 

 keys out of torpidity than to plunge them into it. 



The other monkey, which I had placed under the bell^ 

 glass, assumed in its little cradle a position to preserve 

 itself from the cold, and continued to give signs of respi- 

 ration 14 or 15 times in an hour. I also observed that the 

 water had risen in the bell-glass, and that a pellicle of car- 

 bonate of lime was formed. 



On the 6th of February, the thermometer in the room 

 being at 6^ or 7°, at one o'clock P. M., the external tem- 

 perature having risen to 71°, I resolved to expose the 

 torpid monkey, which had been below the bell-glass, upon 

 the sole of my window. My object was to ascertain if the 

 action of cold, when it increased insensibly, would produce 

 upon the animal the same effects which a sudden transition 

 caused, although there was never any difference between 

 the temperature of the room and that of the external atmo- 

 sphere. 



For two hours and a half the monkey exhibited no in- 

 creased signs of life; but about six o'clock I perceived some 

 indications of a strong respiration. The night approaching, 

 the thermometer gradually fell, so that on the outside of 

 the window the thermometer was at 4° only. At this mo- 

 ment I saw the monkey agitated by convulsive movements 

 as if from pain : it afterwards stretched itself in its cradle, 

 its respiration increased gradually until it appeared no longer 

 to be torpid, but rather asleep. At seven o'clock it respired 

 16 times per minute, Whereas while in a torpid state it re- 

 spired only 15 times an hour. The heat of its body, as 



tried 



