INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. H 



derate heat will revive the animal. Where is the 

 term at which death begins, when every fpark of 

 life is extin6l, and all endeavours to reftore fuf- 

 pended animation will be inefFedual ? Though the 

 great phyfiologifl of Berne fixes it in man when 

 the irritability of the heart is deftroyed for ever, 

 we muft neceffarily admit that it is ftill un- 

 known. But that vigorous life may be fuf- 

 pended for a long interval, is a fad not to be 

 called in queftion. Sleep is a temporary fufpen- 

 fion of the a6live faculties ; ftill all the organic 

 fundions are going on. Torpor is a greater fuf- 

 penfion. Some of the funftions are interrupted, 

 and others imperfet'ily executed. It bears the 

 neareft refemblance to the (late of the refurgent 

 animals under our view, becaufe it may be pro- 

 tradted to an immoderate length by the fimple 

 continuance of cold. The life of infefts in the 

 chryfalis, of birds and reptiles in the egg^ may al- 

 fo be long protraded, or the produdion of the 

 perfed: animal accelerated. The chicken exifts 

 in the egg before incubation, but it depends en- 

 tirely on heat whether it fhall ever be unfolded^ 



Sufpenfion of animation, without becoming 

 death, is lefs repugnant to the mind, v/hen an 

 animal is prefented that will feed voracioufly, 

 ^and then abftain from food for eighteen months 



e 2 . or 



