166 THE DESTRUCTIVE INFLUENCE OF 
would, as a rule, be less readily killed than the 
more highly vitalised animal element or organism. 
These principles, based upon the consideration of 
relative complexity of life, are, however, subject to 
the influence of a disturbing cause. Thus, we must 
also take into account, in the case of animals, 
whether we have to do with the elements of a 
warm-blooded or of a cold-blooded organism, since, 
contrary to what might otherwise have been the 
case, custom or habitual conditions may tend to 
render the more active tissue elements of warm- 
blooded animals better able to withstand the 
influence of heat than similar elements of less 
highly vitalised cold-blooded animals, Keeping 
these considerations in view, therefore, we may see 
by the following figures, how harmonious are the 
facts already ascertained ! 
Temperatures at which Death occurs. 
are killed at 
Simple aquatic organisms ‘ 104°-113° F, 
(Spallanzani, Max Schultze and . 
Kiihne.) 
Tissue elements of cold-blooded 
animal—Frog , ‘ ‘ : 104 
(Kiuhne.) 
