SUSPENDED ANIMATION. 837 



rity of Gesner, that some breams were placed in 

 a pond, that became one mass of solid ice the en- 

 suing winter ; but that soon after it was melted 

 by the warmth of spring, they were found swim- 

 ming about in perfect health. (Complete Angler, 

 p. 257.) Captain Franklin also states, that in the 

 Arctic regions, fishes taken out of the sea, be- 

 came often frozen throughout until brittle as ice, 

 and were afterwards reanimated when placed 

 before a fire. Dr. John Davy informs us fur- 

 ther, that his brother Sir Humphrey kept leeches 

 for several weeks in a congealed state, from 

 which they revived in a warm room ; but that 

 when reduced to the same condition by freezing 

 mixtures, and suddenly transferred to warm water, 

 they all died soon afterwards, except one. 



Why then, it may be asked, are there so few 

 recoveries from death caused by cold, strangula- 

 tion, and suffocation in mephitic gases ? For it 

 is stated by the managers of the Royal Humane 

 Society of London, that life is rarely recovered 

 after the individual has remained four minutes 

 under water. But Dr. Edwards found that young 

 puppies may be kept under water above 15 

 minutes, or reduced to a state of suspended ani- 

 mation by cold, and be restored to activity by 

 fresh air and warmth, that young rabbits imme- 

 diately after birth, could sustain the want of air 

 for 28 minutes ; when 5 days old, for 16 minutes; 

 when 10 days old, for 5^ minutes; but when 15 



