258 ^^ DEATH TROM COLD. 



warmer than that by which the part was thawed, and thus 



the limb be saved. 

 Similar treat- It is agreeable to all analogy to believe, or at least to sus- 

 probabTy^suc- V^^^f ^^^^ ^^hat thus happens with complete certainty to 

 cred when the every limb, lender such circumstances, must also take place 

 nerd!°"'^^^" ^^'^^ respect to thcwhole of the limbs, if the same or still 



greater precautions were observed, if the delay of succour 



be not too long, and if its application be not too rapid. 



There are Instances of effectual assistance being given to men, either 



many facts m gj^tirely frozen, which however is perhaps doubtful, or at 

 support of this. J » II > 



least profoundly benumbed, have occurred frequently in our 



glaciers, and are mentioned by our colleague Ramond. Hal- 

 ler regrets, that no means were tried with a man, vvho was 

 thrown up by a torrent of melted ice long after he had been 

 buried under it, at least as far as could be judged by hi* 

 dress, though his skin was not in the least discoloured. 

 Tortal's me- Our learned colleague Portal, in his excellent work on 



thodgood, asphixies, points out for that which results from cold a me- 

 thod of treatment founded on very good principles ; but I 

 but too hasty, am apprehensive it would be found too hasty in its progress, 

 as it is more so than that emplo^^d in the case of a single 

 Should be limb, and it may be presumed than a general aftcction, being 

 than in a mere more serious and formidable than an affection merely local, 

 local affection, njugt require still more circumspection in the progressive gra- 

 duation of the means employed : the rupture or even aneurism 

 of a few vessels might have much more fatal consequences in 

 Hjis case. 

 The path is Be it as it may, it is evident, that the first steps are al- 



opened: ready taken toward a constant and complete theory of the 



effects of cold on plants and animals, in respect to the degree 

 of temperature, that suits each species. But if this new 

 branch of the beautiful stream of knowledge be opened, and 

 begin to excite our attention with advantage, we must con- 

 but not suffi- fess, that it has not hitherto been sufficiently explored ; that 

 T^^ilf ^*" of the important phenomenon of the life or death of men 

 frozen or simply laid asleep by cold we know nothing certain- 

 ly, either with respect to the periods or the physiology of the 

 transition from one of these to the other, the succession of 

 •means to be employed for the preservation of those whose 



lives 



