28 



when taken in certain doses, many poisons may kill only by 

 their influence on animal heat, and physicians, in cases of poison- 

 ing, should try as much to prevent the diminution of tempera- 

 ture, as to expel the poison or to act against it by an antidote, 

 by pulmonary insufflation, or otherwise. 



In experiments which I have made lately on the action of 

 very pure digitaline, that had been prepared by M. Quevenne, 

 the celebrated chemist, who has made such interesting and 

 accurate researches on digitalis and the substances of which it 

 is composed, I have found that this poison may also dimmish 

 temperature. I believe it is easy to explain the contradiction 

 existing between Traube and Stannius, as regards the influ- 

 ence of digitalis on animal heat. When the atmosphere, in 

 which the animal is, is cold, then its temperature may be dimin- 

 ished by digitalis or digitaline, but when it is warm the diminu- 

 tion does not take place, or it is very small. But, of course, if 

 the dose is sufficient to kill very quickly, then it is indifferent 

 whether the atmosphere is cold or not, because there may be not 

 time enough for the diminution of the temperature of the animal. 



I have to relate another fact which, I believe, ought to be 

 considered as analogous to the preceding. It is that kind of 

 poisoning which occurs when a layer of oil, of varnish or of 

 gelatin, is put on the skin of a warm-blooded animal. Death, 

 then, is very probably produced by a substance unknown 

 until now, and which is secreted by the skin. The layer of oil, 

 varnish, or gelatin preventing that secretion taking place, that 

 unknown substance becomes accumulated in the blood, and then 

 are produced the phenomena so well studied by MM. Fourcault, 

 Becquerel, Breschet, and Magendie. I have found that in 

 such a case the animals may live, if the atmosphere in which 

 they are kept is at a temperature inferior to 79 or 80 F. (26 or 

 27 Cs.) In these circumstances their temperature is not sensi- 

 bly diminished, while it diminishes much when the atmosphere 

 is cold. Therefore it is especially by their loss of warmth that 

 animals are killed, when their body has been entirely covered 

 with oil, varnish, or gelatin. 



