852 SIR ASTLEY COOPER. 



that when kittens a day or two old were immersed 

 in ice cold water, (excepting the head,) they died 

 in four minutes and a half; whereas Sir Astley 

 Cooper found that a kitten six weeks old lived 

 sixteen minutes when treated in the same way. 

 It is therefore manifest, that during the early 

 stages of infancy, the power of obtaining caloric 

 by respiration is very limited that it should be 

 carefully preserved by warm clothing, and not 

 idly wasted by cold bathing. 



On the other hand, when the system has been, 

 exhausted by cold, over-exertion, or loss of sleep, 

 there is nothing more delightful and refreshing 

 than the warm bath, which is peculiarly adapted 

 to individuals of the phlegmatic temperament, 

 and to all such as are troubled with cold extremi- 

 ties, torpor of the circulation, indigestion, and 

 constipation of the bowels. The best temperature 

 in all cases is that which is most agreeable to 

 the feelings. Finally, the warm and cold bath 

 are only means of adding to the body, or sub- 

 tracting from it vital heat. The latter is often 

 dangerous ; whereas the former is rarely if ever 

 so. 



ing the same feat on the 9th of May 1810, Lord Byron should 

 have got the ague ; for its temperature could not then have been 

 much above 60. 



