262 =6Thirty-third Communication from Dr. Thornton 
man of nice observation, and had he not fallen a sacrifice 
to the negligence of drunken attendants, would have him- 
self informed you of the circumstance. He particularly 
informed me, that when he had eaten animal food, or 
drunk fermented liquors, he consumed the air in the lell 
faster than when he lived upon vegetable food and drank 
only water. Many repeated trials had so convinced him 
of this, that he constantly abstained from the former diet 
whilst engaged in diving.” 
John Hunter eae ** the conveyance of some 
stimulating substance-into the stomach, to rouse this seat of 
universal sympathy. This operation should be performed 
with all possible expedition, for fear of inducing sickness.” 
, What this stimulating substance should be, he has not 
infermed his readers. The mode of conveyance is by 
means of a spoon, pressing down the tongue, the patient 
being partly elevated. Among the class of internal stimu- 
lants are hartshorn, rum, brandy, and usquebaugh, which 
are powerful stimulanis. But here it should be remembered, 
that the cessation of the actions of parts predispose them 
to be affected by lesser stimuli, and thrown into inordinate 
action by any strong stimulus. Thus, in a frost-bitten 
limb; the actions have ceased but the power remains. 
Heat only is wanting to call this power into action. But 
this must be gradually applied, or the highest inflamma- 
tion will ensue, ending in mortification. So with those 
starved nearly to death by hunger. Thus may the salu- 
tary efforts of nature be overpowered by the officiousness 
of art, a circumstance we may have frequent occasion to 
observe with regret. Thus, if our stimulants are too po- 
tent, they may prove destructive, by soon exhausting the 
living fibre. We must recollect here, that irritability is 
accumulated, and therefore weak brandy and water is to 
‘be preferred as the stimulant, as was employed in this 
instance. 
I now ordered more blankets to be added to the ‘sia 
covering. 
When respiration ceases in a drowned or suspended per- 
son, the ag of yenerating heat is suspended, and the 
body 
