594 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



the only known method of causing the eruptions to disap- 

 pear has been to suspend or diminish the employment of the 

 bromide of potassium; but, as there are cases where its con- 

 tinued use is necessary, it becomes important to discover 

 some other way of meeting the difficulty. 



From the observations of Dr. Carles, he is satisfied that 

 the bromide of potassium is chiefly eliminated by the urine, 

 and that it only establishes itself under the skin, producing 

 the effects referred to when elimination by the kidneys is in- 

 complete. On this account, therefore, he suggests the use 

 of diuretics, and the opening of the pores of the skin by 

 means of hot baths ; and he found a very remarkable meas- 

 ure of success by this treatment. 1 B, October 13, 1872,25. 



EFFECT OF BATHING OX THE HEAT OF THE BODY. 



Dr. John C. Draper has lately published the results of 

 some experiments upon the heat produced in the body, and 

 the effects of exposure to cold, as determined, in his own case, 

 by the use of the bath. He found that exposure for an hour 

 to water at a temperature of about 74 lowered the temper- 

 ature of the mouth 2; of the armpits, 4 ; and of the temples, 

 2. The rate of respiration was also diminished in one case 

 two, and in another four movements ; and that of the pulse 

 twenty beats in one, and twenty-three in another case. It 

 is therefore evident that the effect of the long-continued ap- 

 plication of cold is to reduce the temperature of the body, 

 and to make the pulsation slower, and that it affects the pul- 

 sations more profoundly. One of the consequences of this ef- 

 fect of the cold on the action of the heart was a great reduc- 

 tion in the quantity of oxygen introduced into the system. 

 The rate of pulsation being reduced nearly one third, the 

 quantity of oxygen introduced into the interior of the body 

 was diminished in a somewhat similar ratio. 



From this resulted an almost overwhelming and, indeed, 

 uncontrollable disposition to fall asleep. A similar result to 

 this sluggish movement of the blood is a disposition to con- 

 gestion of the various internal organs. 



In summing up the conclusion* from the entire series of 

 experiments, Dr. Draper remarks that the primary and most 

 important effect of the application of cold to the whole sur- 

 face of the body is to reduce the action of the heart. This 



