244 VEGETABLE POISONS. 



the heart and lungs were unimpaired : but that those of the brain 

 had ceased, is proved by the animal having continued in a state of 

 complete insensibility ; and by this circumstance, that animal heat, 

 to the generation of which I have formerly shewn the influence of 

 the brain to be necessary, was not generated. 



Having learned that the circulation might be kept up by artificial 

 respiration for a considerable time after the woorara had produced 

 its full effects, it occurred to me that in an animal under the influ- 

 ence of this or of any other poison that acts in a similar manner, by 

 continuing the artificial respiration for a sufficient length of time 

 after natural respiration had ceased, the brain might recover from 

 the impression which the poison had produced, and the animal 

 might be restored to life. In the last experiment, the animal gave 

 no sign of returning sensibility; but it is to be observed, 1. That 

 the quantity of the poison employed was very large. 2, That there 

 was a great loss of animal heat, in consequence of the temperature 

 of the room being much below the natural temperature of the ani- 

 mal, which could not therefore be considered under such favourable 

 circumstances as to recovery, as if it had been kept in a higher tem- 

 perature. 3. That the circulation was still vigorous when I left off 

 inflating the lungs, and therefore it cannot be known what would 

 have been the result, if the artificial respiration had been longer 

 continued. 



Exp. 31 A wound was made in the side of a rabbit, and one 

 drop of the essential oil of almonds was inserted into it, and imme- 

 diately the animal was placed in a temperature of ninety degrees. 

 In two minutes he was under the influence of the poison. The 

 usual symptoms took place, and in three minutes more respiration 

 had ceased, and he lay apparently dead, but the heart was still felt 

 beating through the ribs. A tube was then introduced into one of 

 the nostrils, and the lungs were inflated about thirty-five times 

 in a minute. Six minutes after the commencement of artificial re- 

 spiration, he moved his head and legs, and made an effort to breathe. 

 He then was seized with convulsions, and again lay motionless, but 

 continued to make occasional efforts to breathe. Sixteen minutes 

 after its commencement, the artificial respiration was discontinued. 

 He now breathed spontaneously seventy times in a minute, and 

 moved his head and extremities. After this, he occasionally rose, 

 and attempted to walk. In the intervals hexontinued in a dozing 



