30 ALIMENTATION. 



diminution in temperature has been noted. In the case of 

 the murderer already referred to, 1 the temperature was low- 

 ered to Y5 Fahr. The observations of Chossat on this sub- 

 ject are very exact and satisfactory. He commenced by 

 noting the average normal temperature of the animals to 

 be experimented upon, with the variations at different times 

 of the day. In pigeons he found that the maximum of tem- 

 perature (108) occurred at mid-day ; the minimum, at mid- 

 night, was 106.66, giving an extreme variation of 1.34: 

 Fahr. This variation was independent of the surrounding tem- 

 perature. During the progress of inanition, the daily vari- 

 ation was increased to 5.9. 2 There was also a very slight, 

 but well-marked diminution in the absolute temperature. 

 It was found, also, that the animals recovered from the dimi- 

 nution in temperature which occurred at night with more 

 difficulty than during normal alimentation, and the periods 

 of minimum temperature were unusually prolonged. 



All these facts point to a progressively diminished capa- 

 city of maintaining the independent temperature of the 

 body during inanition. Immediately preceding the fatal 

 termination, the diminution in temperature became very 

 rapid, the rate, in the observations on turtle-doves, being 

 from 7 to 11 per hour. Death usually occurred when the 

 diminution had amounted to about 30. 3 



1 See p. 28. 



2 Op. cit, p. 123. 



3 The experiments of Chossat on the effects of artificial warmth on animals in 

 the last stages of inanition, when the temperature had been reduced nearly to the 

 point at which death occurs, are of great interest. In some of the animals, artificial 

 heat, with food, restored the vital powers so that they were able to digest the food, 

 the muscular power returned, and they finally recovered. In nearly all, even after 

 the inanition had proceeded so far that muscular power was entirely lost and death 

 was imminent, partial restoration was accomplished. They generally moved about 

 with animation, were able in some instances to fly, took food when it was pre- 

 sented to them, and digested it, though this process took place more slowly than 

 in health. Digestion, however, did not continue when the artificial warmth was 

 suspended. The heat thus acquired was found to be easily lost, and did not pre- 

 sent that degree of uniformity which characterizes the normal animal tempera- 



