130 ON RESPIRATION. 



boards on them could be burnt, roofs could not fall in, if the 

 beams, rafters, &c. were iron. In fact, a tire could not make 

 its way and spread, if iron was substituted for the timbers 

 now used in building, and few if any lives would ever be 

 lost, if the staircases were made of iron also. 



1 am, your obedient servant, 



Caroline Street, Aug. 2-2d', 1809, B. COOK. 



VIII. 



On Respiration. By Mr. J. Acton. In a Letter from the 

 Author. 



Dear Sir, 



Ipswich, 22d Aug. 1809. 



Respiration a 

 subject of im- 

 portance. 



Its interruption 

 always produ- 

 ce? death : 



but resuscita- 

 tion may some- 

 times be af- 

 fected. 



^^.GREEABLY to the conclusion of my last letter, I eu= 

 ternowupon respiration. No subject can be more important, 

 more deserving investigation and serious reflection, than that 

 on which animal life so essentially depends. Whether its 

 utility be referred to the medical and chemical philosopher, 

 as enabling him to take more comprehensive views of the 

 Cases submitted to his decision, or as generally increasing 

 the sum of huiyan knowledge, it is still the same. The 

 consequences resulting from a thorough insight into this 

 post important function of vitality exceed all calculation. 

 Some other of the animal functions may be arrested by 

 disease, and their action altogether cease for a time, and the 

 animal shall stilt continue to live; but in the instance under 

 consideration there cannot be a complete interruption with 

 impunity, whether it take place by immersion in water, or 

 in noxious air, or by a ligature tied round the trachea. Cut 

 oft' by any means the communication between the lungs and 

 atmospheric air, and the ariimal dies; the obvious effect is 

 instantanepus, and nearly similar. It must be admitted 

 however, that resuscitation by timely interference may jfjre- 

 quenty be brought about, after animal life has been for some 

 time apparently extinct: but in many instances a few mi- 

 nutes deprivation are sufficient to destroy the vital spark, be- 

 yond the possibility of revival. I donot flatter myself with 



