upon the Animal System. f 



opening the chest, the heart was in full action, and no venous 

 blood to be seen in any part of the body. 



EXPERIMENT X. 



At a quarter past two p. m. two rabbits of three or four weeks 

 old were immersed in about two gallons of oxygen, a portion 

 of which was fresh, and the remainder had been breathed by 

 the rabbit of the last experiment. A thermometer applied to 

 the groin indicated a temperature of about 90 degrees in each 

 rabbit, previous to the experiment. One was a black and the 

 other a yellow rabbit, the latter being much the largest. In an 

 hour they appeared to breathe quick, but were both lively. 

 The lesser rabbit was apparently distressed long prior to the 

 other. At eight o'clock, five hours and three-quarters after 

 immersion, it was in a prostrate and insensible state, breathing 

 only by the diaphragm, and slowly. The larger rabbit was on 

 its side, weak, and gasping occasionally, but lively when 

 roused. At eleven this rabbit was in the same state, but its 

 head falling under the rising water around, accidentally put a 

 stop to its feeble respirations, and it was therefore removed 

 prematurely. A thermometer was immediately introduced into 

 the abdomen, and indicated 87 degrees. On opening the 

 chest the heart was in full action, and no venous blood was 

 perceptible, the animal having been immersed nine hours 

 altogether. The lesser rabbit was then removed, a very feeble 

 action of the diaphragm, and now and then a gasp appearing, 

 but wholly insensible. In the open air, however, its renewed 

 gasps restored animation in some degree, the glaziness of the 

 eyes went off, it uttered cries, and attempted motion. It was 

 then pithed, and the thermometer being inserted into the ab- 

 domen rose to 88 degrees. The heart was in full and strong 

 action, and the blood scarlet, the circulation evidently con- 

 tinuing throughout the body. The peristaltic motion of the 

 bowels had not ceased. The contents of this jar, as usual, 

 rekindled a blown-out taper. 



EXPERIMENT XI. 



A rabbit of about three or four weeks old was immersed in 

 a gallon of fresh oxygen at one o'*clock p. m. In about an 

 hour its respiration was quickened, and in two hours it was 



