190 On Employment of Oxygen Gas in suspended Animation. 
[P.226] 1. 18 and 19, states of electricity t+.—+t I wish, in follow- 
ing up this very ingenious idea, (P. M. xxxix. p. 428), that 
Mr. B. would consider and examine, how far the Voltaie 
influence seems to vary in its effects, in the fault-veins, 
(see my note on p. 218), owing to different. Rocks, or beds 
of the same Rock, being opposite to each other, instead of 
the cheeks being similar, as is usual: as also, that he will 
apply the same considerations, to fawlfs, near to the 
Hot springs (so general in Derbyshire), which bring strata 
beneath, into contact, or nearly, which were not originally 
so, see my Notes on pages 304 and 306, 
[To be continued. } 
XXXVI. Memoir upon the Employment of Oxygen Gas in 
various Cases of suspended Animation. By M.SEMENTINI*, 
Tur object of this memoir is to suggest a speedy and efficacious 
method of contributing to the processes at present in use, for the 
restoration to life of drowned or suffocated persons. 
What is meant by suspended animation, may be understood by 
referring to the cessation of the motion of a pendulum, merely 
from a mechanical stoppage of its oscillation, while none of the 
parts of the machine have been injured, Now when there is a 
want of sensation and motion caused by an absolute suspension 
of the same faculty, we may expect the return of life by giving 
it such an action that it mav resume its natural state, as the 
pendulum resumes its functions when a mechanical impulse has 
restored the oscillation which is peculiar to it. 
But the animal organization is such, that the state of suspended 
animation speedily becomes dangerous, and apparent death is 
soon changed into the réality, on account of the facility with, 
which the humours of an animal body are changed. 
Now suspended animation may be produced by causes which 
act either on the general system, or directly upon the organ of 
respiration; but I intend to allude here to those cases only which, 
deriving their origin from any given cause, have instantly pro- 
duced such a derangement in the functions of the lungs as to 
produce apparent death. 
Recently, when directing my attention to the contrivances 
called fumigatory boxes, it occurred to me, that since inflation 
was generally regarded as the most energetic methed of restoring 
animation, oxygen gas might be employed instead of common 
air. I afterwards became acquainted with the work of Dr. 
‘*® Annales de Chimie, tome Ixxxvi. p. 140, 
Goodwin, 
