ANIMAL HEAT. 203 



The animals employed in these experiments were of the The air exa- 

 same species, and nearly of the same size. Attention to these JJJJ^ /f^o?" 

 circumstances was judged necessary, that the results might be ash over mer- 

 as conclusive as possible. The chemical examination of the cur y* 

 air was made by agitating it in a graduated measure over 

 quicksilver, with a watery solution of potash. My friend, 

 Mr. Brande, gave me his assistance in this part of the present m 



investigation, as he had done on many former occasions. It 

 will be observed, that in estimating the proportion of car* 

 bonic acid, no allowance has been made for that contained in 

 the atmosphoric air j tirst, because the quantity is so small that 

 the omission can occasion no material error 3 and secondly, 

 because the object is to ascertain, not so mucfc the absolute, 

 as the relative, quantities of ca- bonic acid evolved by animals 

 breathing under different circumstances. 



The experiments which I shall first notice, wor^ rcvacfo C;0 

 the respiration of animals in a natural state. 



Experiment 1. Thermometer 65°, barometer hot b Experiment 1. 



A young rabbit was allowed to remain under the fc^V^tass ^Station 



during thirty minutes. The respired air at the fetid of this for thirty mi- 



time was found to contain _i_ of carbonic acid. minutes con- 



* sumert about 



It was ascertained, that the rabbit occupied the space of 50 50§ cubic 



Scinches. ££&£• 



The capacity of the bell-glass =? 502 cubic inches. 

 That of the gum bottle 52 cubic inches. 

 The air in the tubes and bladder == two cubic inchei. 



502 + 52 + 2 — 50 506 



Then . =s — = 25*3. 



20 20 



The rabbit, therefore, in thirty minutes gave out 25*3 cubic 

 inches of carbonic acid, and consumed the same quantity of 

 oxigen gas, which is at the rate of 50"6 in an hour. 



Exp. 2. Thermometer 65 ", barometer 30* 1 inches. £ X p. 2. 



A somewhat smaller rabbit was allowed to remain under Another at 

 • .,,,,. rrM • j • ., the rate of 56% 



the bell-glass during 30 minutes. The respired air contained CUD j c inchei. 



_!_ of carbonic acid. The animal occupied the space of 48 



cubic inchei. 



502+52+2 — 48 508 



■■ ' '■ a* «= 28 22. 



18 18 



P2 The 



