ON RESPIRATION. ] 33 



manner in which they have been treated in these experiments treated in the 

 must not be compared in severity to the common mode of fr,,lowin 'g ex - 



..,, . ,. , .- periments as if 



exterminating them by poison. It is on the first transient merely killed 

 view that humanity shudders at the infliction of pain ; could b >' P oison « 

 she have patience to listen to adequate reasons for what is 

 done, conviction of utility would often take place of cen- 

 sure. Far, very far be it from me by the least word or ac- 

 tion to advocate the cause of cruelty : should I be suspected 

 of so great depravity, I can only say, I feel conscious of de- 

 serving no such accusation ; it is foreign to my nature; not 

 the po>es of the Earth are more distant from each other than 

 is inhumanity in any shape from my genuine feelings. It 

 must however be allowed, and with concern I mention it, 

 that philosophers have sometimes in recording their experi- 

 ments particularized the most painful operations- on animals 

 with an indifference not very characteristic of a tender na- 

 ture, and sufficient almost to induce a suspicion of a defi- 

 ciency of the finer traits of sensibility, particularly of that 

 species so masterly pourtrayed and inculcated in the instruc- 

 tive and pleasing writings of Mr. Pratt. 



In the following experiments it will be seen there is a Repetition of 



sameness and want of variety bordering upon tediousness, the ex P eri - 



. merits in order 



which the simplicity of the fact sought to be demonstrated to establish the 



can alone excuse. I was desirous not to lose any thing for fact ' 

 want of repetition ; and if by this means a sufficiently strict 

 analogy be apparent in them, the end will be as well an- 

 swered, as in all probability it would have been by extend- 

 ing them in a more complicated form, which might only 

 have had the effect of rendering the deductions less plain 

 and easy. 



T must premise, without farther apology, that in these as 

 well as my former experiments, it has not been possible to 

 avoid the introduction of small quantities of atmospheric 

 air; but it will appear, that, so far from having any tenden- 

 cy to vitiate these results, they become in most instances a 

 farther confirmation of them. 



18 Oct. 1808, Temp. 45°, Press. 29*20. 



Exp. 1. An accurately graduated jar being filled with Mouse kept ia 

 quicksilver and inverted, 17*50 cub, inches of atmospheric atmos P lieric 



air 



