ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF THE METHYL COMPOUNDS. 179 
continued, the minimum of six degrees being marked by all the signs of 
impending death, viz. feeble breathing, intermittent pulse, and complete 
muscular relaxation. At this extreme recovery was permitted. The tem- 
perature during the recovery began in all cases to rise in from two minutes and 
a half to three minutes after the chloroform was withdrawn : it would even 
rise a degree in this period, and would continue to ascend with the same 
rapidity for as many as three degrees. But the last three degrees were re- 
gained always slowly, as long a time as an hour occurring for the progress of 
each degree; this was particularly the fact where the temperature at the 
beginning was very high. The bird whose temperature was 110° was three 
hours recovering four degrees of heat, and nine in recovering the full quan- 
tity lost, 6°. One symptom common to the action of chloroform (I mean 
vomiting) exerted a marked and sudden change, causing a rapid fall in the 
mercury of frequently two degrees. The change was not observed during the 
act or strain of vomiting, but instantly afterwards. The loss of heat thus 
sustained was not made up so long as the inhalation and the narcotism were 
continued. 
Under ether the decline of temperature in pigeons is not so determinate as 
under chloroform, but it is continuous, i.e. without any temporary rise, from 
the first. The fall amounts to an average of four degrees. The absence of 
yomiting during administrations of ether may account for this difference to 
Some extent; but the grand reason why the temperature keeps up so well is 
the quietude that prevails, the avoidance of that muscular excitement which 
so prominently distinguishes the action of the chlorides. 
In the administration of chloroform to guineapigs the same changes of 
temperature were observed, but in a less marked degree. The temperature 
during the stage of excitement rose 1° Fahr., and then sunk three degrees, 
that is to say, 2° below the natural standard. The temperature also re- 
mained at the lower degree during the whole period of recovery, and did not 
rewurn to the natural condition for a period of nearly four hours. 
Under ether the temperature of guineapigs showed extremely slight 
variation. There was no prelimimary increase of temperature, and under the 
deepest anesthesia the reduction never reached beyond one degree and a 
half. The natural standard was regained within the hour. 
In two short series of final experiments on temperature I inquired whether 
any extreme changes would result, or any differences, by artificially in- 
creasing the temperature of the air in which the animal inhaled the vapour 
of chloroform. A pigeon, having a natural temperature of 108° Fahr., was 
placed in a hot-air bath at 112° Fahr.; in a short time the temperature of the 
animal rose three degrees, where it remained stationary, the further accumu- 
lation of heat being arrested by copious elimination. “The animal was now 
put to sleep with chloroform, the sleep being induced with extremest 
rapidity, as is common in high temperatures. During the passing interval of 
excitement the thermometer remained steady, and then suddenly fell to 
109°. The vapour was withdrawn at this point with a return to sensibility 
that was startling from its rapic ity. Narcotism once more induced the ther- 
mometer went down to 107°, but rose once more almost instantly to 109°, 
on the vapour being withdrawn. 
In another observation on a pigeon, haying a natural temperature of 108°, 
at 60° the temperature of the animal, in a room at 96°, rose to 110° Fahr. 
During narcotism in this state the temperature fell to 108°-5, 107°8, 107°, 
and then suddenly to 105°, when insensibility was complete. As recovery 
progressed, the temperature rose to 108°-4, but during a slight vomiting 
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