ox DEATit FTcOM COLD. ^ S,57 



tary transfusion of the fat, or stiffen the organs to such a de- 

 gree, as to cause an absolute cessation of their secret move- 

 tnents, which appears to be an accident that the mamTnalia 

 are liable to, though some of the serpents and gelatinous ani- 

 mals are not. 



This important point, that the general vitality of man is Wemayinfe? 



mcrelv suspended in this case, is indicated by the repeated t^»s by reason- 

 -> r ' . . mg from a part 



experience of northern countries and lofty mountains with to the whole. 



respect to the particular vitality of frozen limbs. 



It is by no means uncommon for the nose, ears, hands, or EfFect of cold 

 ifeet, to freeze in cold climates. If this be not quickly re- °"^^^ ^'"S^e 

 medied, the contrast between the living state of the rest of 

 the body and the incipient xieath of the limb attacked occa- 

 sions this limb to sphacelate : Nature cuts it off by the stre- 

 nuous resistance of the. contiguous and threatened limb. If 

 hasty means be adopted to remedy it, the too rapid distension 

 of the capillary vessels by the fluids contained in 'them rup- 

 tures their sides, and extravasations take place ; the commu- 

 nication, instead of being restored, is thus completely inter- 

 rupted, and a gangrene is induced from the same cause. The Effects on ve- 

 same thing happens to those buds of plants, that are exposed p^^^^^s sirai- 

 to the rays of the sun, befoie the frost that covered them has 

 been dispersed ; while those that are thawed gradually in the 

 shade receive no injur3\ " Nature," 3a3-s the great Newton, 

 ** is consistent with herself." In all things, and at all times, 

 she follows the same laws. The more she is observed with a 

 philosophic eye, the more we perceive, that these laws are 

 few, alid combined with admirable, with astonishing benevo- 

 lence. 



It is the same then with the limbs of animals, as with They must be 

 those of vegetables. If they be thawed with cautious slow- mlnishing th« 

 ness ; if the part frozen be removed from the extreme cold it ^^^^ ^Y slo'w 

 has experienced to a less degree of cold ; if it be rubbed ^"^^ * ^^"^' 

 with snow, then immersed in the water of melting ice, and 

 this be suffered to warm gradually, at first by the mere con- 

 tact of the contiguous unfrozen portion of the limb, the part 

 frozen will recover its local vitality. The cure may then be 

 completed by very small successive additions of water a little 

 Vol. XVin— Dec. 1807. S warmer 



