AND ANIMAL LIFE. 377 



that children are rendered sickly, or at least do 

 not thrive so well, by sleeping with individuals 

 far advanced in years, and, still further, that the 

 life of the latter is prolonged by such means. 

 From the following observations, it will appear 

 probable that the benefit which the one derives 

 will be at the expense of the other. The tem- 

 perature of the child is superior, and much more 

 equally diffused, and the circulation is also much 

 more vigorous than the same in an old and weak- 

 ly individual. In the latter the extremities are kept 

 warm with difficulty, the surface is pale and col- 

 lapsed, and the susceptibility to cold at this period 

 of life proves, that the source of animal heal possesses 

 neither great energy nor stability. When the 

 system, in this condition, is placed in juxta- 

 position with one that developes the strong 

 powers of life, it necessarily deprives it of a por- 

 tion of its heat, on account of its conducting 

 qualities. The additional stimulus acquired is 

 grateful to the sensations of the aged, and as it 

 tends to excite the external capillary circulation, 

 it communicates a genial warmth and new vi- 

 gour throughout the constitution, and conse- 

 quently improves the various organic functions, 

 whose office it is to oxygenate and circulate the 

 blood, or otherwise contribute towards the de- 

 velopment of the principles of life. From this 

 explanation, we perceive that existence may be 



