ACTION OF VEGETABLE POISONS. ^33 



Tose to one hundred degrees; at the close of the experiment 

 it had fallen to eighty-eight and a half. 



During the continuance of the artificial respiration, the 

 blood in the femoral artery was of a florid red, and that in 

 the femoral vein of a dark colour, as usual. 



It has been observed by Mr. Bichat, that the immediate ImmecViat*- 

 cause of death, when it takes place suddenly, must be the |^j^^^ jg^J^"^' 

 cessation of the functions of the heart, the brain, or the 

 lungs. This observation may be extended to death under all 

 circumstances. The stomach, the liver, the kidneys, and 

 many other organs, are necessary to life, but their constant 

 action is not necessary; and the cessation of their functions 

 cannot therefore be the immediate cause of death. As in this 

 case the action of the heart had never ceased ; as the circula- 

 tion of the blood was kept up by artificial respiration for more 

 than an hour and twenty minutes after the poison had pro- 

 duced its full effects; and as during this time the usual 

 changes in the colour of the blood took place in the lungs; 

 it is evident, that the functions of the heart and lungs were 

 unimpaired: but that those of the brain had ceased, is 

 proved, by the animal having continued in a state of com- 

 plete insensibility; and by this, circumstance, that animal 

 heat, to the generation of which I have formerly shown 

 the influence of the brain to be necessary, was not gene« 

 rated. 



Having learned, that the circulation might be kept up by Perhaps life 

 artificial respiration for a considerable time after the ^J.^.^^ ,^y ^"^^^ 

 woorara had produced its full effects, it occurred to me, ing up artificial 

 that, in an animal under the influence of this or of any '^^^P"^^'*^"- 

 other poison, that acts in a similar manner, by continuing 

 the artificial respiration for a sufficient length of time after 

 natural respiration had ceased, the brain might recover from 

 the impression, which the poison had produced, and the 

 animal might be restored to life. In the last experiment, 

 the animal gave no sign of returning sensibility: but it is 

 to be observed, 1. That the quantity of the poison em- 

 ployed was very large. 2. That there was a great loss of 

 animal heat, in consequence of the temperature of the 

 •room being much below the natural temperature of tha 



animal) 



