IN THE .ANIMAL ORGANISM. 24 I 



inspired oxygen ; the power of the oxygen to unite 

 with the elements of the tissues is, at this part, ex- 

 alted. When the part has once lost its condition of 

 life, resistance entirely ceases ; and in consequence of 

 the combination of the oxygen with the elements of 

 the metamorphosed tissues, a greater amount of heat 

 is liberated. 



For a given amount of oxygen, the heat produced 

 is, in all cases, exactly the same. In the cooled part, 

 the change of matter, and with it the disengagement 

 of heat, increases ; while in the other parts the change 

 of matter and liberation of heat decrease. But when 

 the cooled part, by the union of oxygen with the ele- 

 ments of the metamorphosed tissues, has recovered its 

 original temperature, the resistance of its living parti- 

 cles to the oxygen conveyed to them again increases, 

 and, as the resistance of other parts is now diminished, 

 a more rapid change of matter now occurs in them, 

 their temperature rises, and along with this, if the cause 

 of the change of matter continue to operate, a larger 

 amount of vital force becomes available for mechanical 

 purposes. 



Let us now suppose that heat is abstracted from the 

 whole surface of the body ; in this case the whole ac- 

 tion of the oxygen will be directed to the skin, and 

 in a short time the change of matter must increase 

 throughout the body. Fat, and all such matters as 

 are capable of combining with the oxygen which is 

 21 



