Natural History^ 891 



the attachment of the diaphragm, and then the current of electricity 

 from 25 or 30 pair of inch plates passed through them, that the 

 diaphragm immediately contracts, and an inspiration is effected. 

 Upon breaking the communication, and again completing it, a 

 second inspiration is occasioned, and by continuing these means, a 

 regoilar respiration may ultimately be occasioned. This power thus 

 applied has always succeeded with him in experiments on drowned 

 animals. — Bull. Univ.y C. xi. 213. 



16. Recovery from Drowning. — M. Bourgeois had occasion acci- 

 dentally to give assistance in a case where, after a person had been 

 twenty minutes under water, he was taken out, and by a very common 

 but serious mistake, carried with his head downwards. The usual 

 means were tried unremittingly, but unsuccessfully, for a whole 

 hour, but at the end of that time a little blood flowed from a vein 

 that had been opened, and a ligature being placed on the arm, ten 

 ounces of blood were withdrawn : the circulation and respiration 

 were then gradually re-established, horrible convulsions, and a 

 frightful state of tetanus coming on at the same time ; copious 

 bleeding was again effected, after which a propensity to sleep came 

 on : a third bleeding the following morning was followed by the 

 recovery of the patient. Hence M. Bourgeois concludes that the 

 means of recovering a drowned person should never be abandoned 

 until the decomposition of the body has commenced. — Bull, Univ., 

 C. xi. 213. 



19. Preservation of Cantharides. — It is stated by M. Farines 

 that the active part of cantharides exists only in the soft organs of 

 the insect ; that these are the parts which are attacked by a species 

 of acarus, and that in this way the cantharides are injured. Cam- 

 phor has no power of preventing the attacks of the acarus ; but 

 M. Farines believes that pyroligneous acid will be found effectual, 

 and proposes to prepare cantharides with it, and even to kill them 

 at the time when they are collected by submersion in it. 



20. Chloride of Lime in cases of Burns. — The good effect of 

 chloride of lime in cases of burns is confirmed by the experience 

 of M. Lisfranc. He has applied it in many cases of that kind, 

 sometimes immediately afler the accident, sometimes afler the ap- 

 plication of emollient cataplasms. Lint is moistened in a solution 

 more or less strong of chloride of lime, and then applied to the 

 place, being covered over with waxed cloth. The cure has been 

 singularly hastened under its influence ; and in one case wher^e 

 almost the whole of the lower limbs, the arms and face, had been 

 burnt, the use of the chloride recovered the patient from the stupor 

 into which he had fallen at the end of four days, and a perfect rcr 

 covery was effected two months afler the accident.— ^wZ/. Univ., Q. 

 xi. 77. 



