90 ANIMALCULA OF INFUSIONS. I, 



his experiments credit, there is an eafy method 

 of conciliating the differences : It is, That the 

 French naturalift has made his experiments in 

 winter, when the animals are deprived of fenfe 

 and motion, and actually are not different from 

 cold-blooded animals, becaufe inclemency of 

 the feafon has exhaufted every principle of heat. 

 Experiment had taught me, as reafon itfelf would 

 do, that neither bats nor hedgehogs become 

 lethargic unlefs their internal heat is diminifhed. 

 From the whole it is evident, that, notwith- 

 ftanding M. De Buffon's idea is ill founded, it is 

 indubitable that refrigeration of the blood takes 

 place in all animals experiencing lethargic fleep. 

 Shall we hence conclude the lethargy an imme- 

 diate confequence of this refrigeration ? Let us 

 confider the incipient torpor of an animal. — The 

 influence of cold begins : it ads not only on the 

 exterior, but alfo internally. Application of 

 the thermometer will not allow me to doubt it ; 

 and evinces, that the action of the cold is equally 

 communicated to the fanguinous fluid and the 

 folids. Yet I am left in doubt, whether torpi- 

 dity proceeds from refrigeration of the blood, of 

 the folids, or of both. I try to analize the 

 faft ; and refied whether there is any animal, 

 among thofe becoming torpid, which, after pri- 

 vation of its whole blood, will, for a confidera- 

 ble time, preferve its original vivacity and vigour. 



Such 



