ANIMAL HEAT. 207 



I'he experiment was repeated on a rabbit, which had been bit kI [ le , d with 

 ,11 • i .i r , j iiri i essential oil of 



inoculated with the essential oil of almonds. When be was almonds. Re- 

 placed under the bell-glass, the thermometer in the rectum v . ived by artifi- 

 stood at 96°. In a few minutes he gave signs of sensibility, t - on but the 

 and made efforts to breathe ; but as these efforts were at long cooling was 

 intervals, the artificial respiration was continued. In half an "cted^&c**" 

 hour he breathed spontaneously 40 times in a minute. The 

 thermometer in the rectum had fallen to 9O . 



The air being examined, was found to contain T V of carbo- 

 nic acid. 



The rabbit occupied the space of 47 cubic inches. 

 502 + 52 -f 2 — 47 509 



— -— = — == 28275 cubic inches of carbonic 



18 18 



acid evolved in 30 minutes, which is at the rate of 56*55 cubic 

 inches in an hour. 



The animal lay as if in a state of profound sleep. At the 

 end of two hours and twenty minutes, from the time of the 

 poison being applied, the thermometer in the rectum had fallen 

 to 79 > an d he was again apparently dead) but the heart still 

 continued acting, though feebly, and its action was kept up for 

 30 minutes longer by means of artificial breathing, when the 

 thermometer had fallen to JQ. The carbonic acid evolved 

 during these last 30 minutes, amounted to nearly 13 cubic 

 inches. 



From the precautions with which these experiments were Conclusion, 

 made, I am induced to hope that there can be no material That 'ho'arti- 

 error in their results. They appear to warrant the conclusion, t ; n in anani- 

 that in an animal in which the brain has ceased to exercise its mal > of . which 

 functions, although respiration continues to be performed, and without ac- 

 the circulation of the blood is kept up to the natural standard, tion, will keep 

 although the usual changes in the sensible qualities of the \^ t ^ and 1 " 

 blood take place in the two capillary systems, and the same produce the 

 quantity of carbonic acid is formed as under ordinary circum- "n^Vblood* 

 stances ; no heat is generated, and (in consequence of the cold it does not 

 air thrown into the lungs) the animal cools more rapidly than P ro<luce heat, 

 one which is actually dead. 



It is a circumstance deserving of notice, that so large a What may be 

 quantity of air should be consumed by the blood passing JggpJJ,!?" ? f 

 through the lungs, when the functions of the brain, and those 

 of the organs dependant on it, are suspended. Perhaps it is 



not 



