OF THE BRAIN, ETC. 15 



half, in the rectum, was half a degree, and in 

 the thorax two degrees and a half ; whereas, in 

 the preceding experiment, at the end of an hour 

 and 40 minutes, the difference in the rectum 

 was 2^- degrees, and in the thorax 3 degrees. It 

 appears, therefore, that the rabbit in which the 

 circulation was maintained by artificial respira- 

 tion, cooled more rapidly, on the whole, than the 

 rabbit whose lungs were inflated after the cir- 

 culation had ceased. The explanation is suffi- 

 ciently obvious. In the last case the cold air 

 was always applied to the same surface, but in 

 the former it was also applied to fresh portions 

 of blood, by the circulation of which its cooling 

 powers were communicated to the more distant 

 parts of the body. 



I have selected the above from a great number 

 of similar experiments, which it would be need- 

 less to detail. It is sufficient to state, that the 

 general results were always the same ; and that 

 whether the pulse was frequent or slow, full or 

 small, or whether the respirations were frequent 

 or otherwise, there was no very perceptible dif- 

 ference in the cooling of the animal. 



From the whole it appears to me that we may 

 deduce the following conclusions : 



1. The influence of the brain is not directly 

 necessary to the action of the heart. 



2. When the brain is injured or removed, the 



