328 ESSAYS anp OBSERVATIONS 
times in a minute, but became gradually” 
flower *. Immediately after counting the 
pulfe, Mr Ramfay cut the ribs on each 
fide vf the fternum, which he laid back 
in the ufual way. The heart, which was 
thus brought in view, appeared quite tur- 
gid, and continued in motion about five 
minutes; during which time it performed 
only between 60 and 65 weak vibrations; 
for they were not compleat contractions. 
While the heart was thus moving, warm 
fativa was firft applied to it, then cold wa- 
ter, and laft of all oil of vitriol ; which 
fhrivelled the parts it touched, almoft in 
the fame manner as a hot iron would 
have done; but none of them accelerated 
the heart’s vibrations, which became gra- 
dually flower, till they ceafed altogether. 
THE fibres of fome of the intercoftal 
mufcles on the right fide of the flernum — 
continued to be agitated with a weak tre- — 
mulous motion near half an hour after — 
the inje@ion was made into the abdowmrn ; : 
bet 
* The dog’s heart in a natural ftate, and before the 
injeStion of the {olution of opium, beat 150 in the minutes, 
