^5 ANIMALCULA 6F INFUSIONS. L 



the arteries, covered and protected from the at- 

 mofphere, while the jugular veins being contract- 

 ed, it Is with difficulty returned to the heart. A 

 fenfible relaxation In the circulation will enfue, 

 which, encreafing as the Intenfenefs of the cold 

 advances, will end in reft, and the animal will 

 die. 



In the northern countries, it Is not unufual that 

 a coup defroid kills men on the fpot. The caufe 

 has been fuppofed nearly the fame. The lungs, 

 expofed to the immediate adion of the cold air, 

 are fuddenly contra£ted, and impede the paffage 

 of the blood from the right to the left ventricle 

 of the heart. Thus, according to thofe authors, 

 death proceeds from obftrufted circulation ( i ). 



I am fully convinced this may be the real rea- 

 fon why numberlefs animals die, that is, all thofe 

 neceffitated to perifh when the circulation is flop- 

 ped ; but there are many that live, at leaft fome 

 time, when the circulation of the fluids is fuf- 

 pended, or even when they are entirely taken 

 away. The death of animals by cold muft there- 



fore 



( I ) According to the mod authentic accounts, when 

 men are expofed to intenfe cold, an irrefiftible defire to 

 ■ fleep enfues, which ends In death. Thus, it is not impro- 

 bable that men may be in a degree of torpor and revive. 

 ~T. 



