42 WONDERS OF ORGANIC LIFE. 



the body is capable of sustaining a temperature 

 greatly higher than that of itself, and which 

 would induce rapid decomposition in a body 

 deprived of life. Secondly, when the body is 

 exposed to a temperature considerably below 

 that of its own natural or ordinary standard, 

 the vital principle counteracts the depressing 

 influence of that low temperature by the 

 generation of caloric, according to the necessity 

 of the case. But neither in the first nor in 

 the second instance, as above adduced, can the 

 vital energy struggle beyond a fixed point. 

 The state of health, or a constitutional tempera- 

 ment, age, and other accidental conditions, must 

 also be always taken into account. 



Eeverting to our first observation, it would 

 appear that heated air, heated aqueous vapour, 

 and heated water, raised each alike up to the 

 same temperature, are not equally sustained by 

 the body. The highest temperature which the 

 human frame can struggle with is that of the 

 air ; and a temperature of 260°, or even more, 

 may be borne without much difficulty, at least 

 for a limited space of time. The temperature 

 of aqueous vapour cannot be endured for more 

 than half an hour if raised above 130°; 

 although, as we are informed by Dr. South- 

 wood Smith, the peasants of Finland are able to 

 sustain it for the same length of time at the 

 temperature of 167°. Here, most probably, 

 custom has taught the system a lesson of 

 accommodation. A water bath raised in tem- 

 perature to 113° cannot be endured for above 



