170 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



racourcit a mesure la longeur de la moelle indis- 

 pensable pour 1'entretien de la circulation."* 



CLXXXVII. During the continuance of the 

 lethargy the animal loses much in weight. The 

 experiments of Dr MONRO on the hedge-hog, of 

 MANGILI on marmots, and those of Mr COR- 

 NISH on bats and dormice, are sufficient to con- 

 firm the truth of the statement. It is scarcely 

 possible to conceive that respiration should act, 

 even feebly, for several months, without affecting 

 the weight of the body to the extent observed. 

 It is remarked by MANGILI, that this circum- 

 stance becomes more obvious if the animal has 

 been roused several times from its torpid state ; 

 and this is what we ought to expect if we con- 

 sider that, every time the animal is revived, the 

 functions of the lungs and heart are quickened, 

 thus diffusing a greater stimulus throughout the sys- 

 tem, improving the action of the absorbents and se- 

 cernents, without any food being taken to supply 

 these additional demands. The animal returns to 

 its lethargic condition ; but it is probable that 

 several days transpire before the necessary or- 

 ganic relations are re-established, and, until this 

 takes place, the powers appropriated to subtract 

 exceed those which add, and thus it is easy to 

 account for the diminished weight from repeated 

 reviviscences. 



* Experiences sur le Principe cle la Vie. Par M. LE- 

 GAL LOIS, M. D. p. 144. 



