246 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



causes is of an aggravated nature, and tends to 

 arouse the breathing for a moment. The animal 

 has sudden starts, and, after these, respires with 

 regularity for a few seconds, but soon returns to 

 its previous disordered condition. 



CCLXVIII. The irregular, or interrupted mode 

 of respiration, tends to render imperfect the pro- 

 per oxygenation and distribution of the blood ; 

 and in accordance with these changes, we observe 

 that the animal heat is diminished. 



I have made many experiments on this sub- 

 ject, and have invariably found that the temper- 

 ature is lessened as soon as the narcotic effects are 

 manifest. The two following experiments may 

 be regarded as affording a correct idea of the ge- 

 neral changes which succeed the exhibition of 

 opium. Thirty grains of this substance were in- 

 jected into the cellular tissue of the abdomen of 

 a full grown rabbit : its temperature before ex- 

 periment was 102. 



Time Minutes. Temperature. Respirations. 



40 96 30 per minute, 



65 94| 33 



105 93 33 



160 96 40 



215 96 40 



295 98 More frequent. 



7 hours. 100 ditto. 



13 ditto. 102 ditto. 



Rabbit full grown ; colour white ; temperature 102. 

 About five grains of opium were injected as in the pre- 



