I INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. 



evidence, not even a dlftan^ probability, that any 

 exifls to be awakened. If life ccnfifls in irrita- 

 bility, or without going fo far, if it is true that 

 it is not extinft, where irritabihty is manifefied, 

 what elfe is requifite, than that the animal fhall 

 be put in a fituation where its dormant irritabi- 

 lity may be re-excited, that fome fhimulus, capa- 

 ble of awakening the fufceptibility of its mufcles, 

 Ihall be applied ? This, however, generally 

 fpeaking, is only a cafe of fufpendc;d animation ; 

 undoubtedly, it is not death, which occafions a 

 moft difficult and delicate diftindion ; for by ad- 

 mitting it, almoft every criterion of real diffolu- 

 lion is rejefted. Sufpended animation may de- 

 generate into death, without any evident exter- 

 nal change. A man has been revived who v/as 

 forty-five minutes in water ; two minutes morCj 

 or a little accidental delay, might have rendered 

 all efforts to refufcitate him ineffeftual. The 

 mufcles might have lofl that property which ren- 

 dered them fufceptible of a certain ftimulus. 

 There may be, nay, it is likely, there are flimu- 

 lants, with which we are unacquainted, that will 

 roufe the vital powers into adion, after a much 

 longer period than has hitherto been witnelfed. 

 The condition of an animal fuffocated in mephi- 

 tic vapours, or half ftrangled, is the fame ; life 

 may be recalled by particular ftimulants. When 

 torpid from cold, the fimple application of mo- 

 derate 



