372 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



illustrates the correctness of the explanation I 

 have given. When the thermometer was put 

 close to the living penis, after it had been im- 

 mersed for some minutes in the warm water, 

 " the quicksilver immediately fell from 118 to 

 104, while it did not fall more than a degree 

 put close to the dead."* 



The individual who submitted to this experi- 

 ment did not feel the water unpleasantly warm 

 when the parts had been immersed in it for a 

 few minutes ; but whenever the water was agi- 

 tated it was felt disagreeably hot. It is manifest 

 that the circidation of blood through the penis 

 continually robbed the water in contact with it 

 of a portion of its heat. As the blood was warm- 

 ed at the expense of the surrounding medium, 

 and as it was renewed every few seconds, the 

 water would necessarily lose several degrees of 

 heat. When the water was agitated, another 

 portion, which had not been particularly acted 

 upon by the blood, was then placed in contact 

 with the living parts, which satisfactorily ac- 

 counts for the heat which was experienced from 

 this simple circumstance. 



CCCCXLVII. RICHERAND, the distinguish- 

 ed French physiologist, has endeavoured to sup- 

 port views similar to those of HUNTER. He 

 says, " I applied bags filled with very hot sand, 

 along the leg and foot of a man whose artery 



* Ibid, P . no. 



