Chap, viii.] OF THE MODIFYING AGENTS OF NtJTEITION. 153 



atmosphere is diy. Then, in fact, cutaneous evaporation produces 

 a certain degree of coolness, ■whicli makes a momentary compen- 

 sation. Thus, a mammiferous animal, in a dry hot-house will 

 support, during some minutes, temperatures of 80, 100, and 

 even 120 degrees, but only when its inner temperature does not 

 exceed by more than five degrees the normal temperature. It 

 first pants ; then at the end of a very short time, it falls 

 instantaneously dead, without agony. When a temperature of 

 45 degi'ees has thus iavaded the anatomical elements the 

 muscular sap coagulates, and the animal dies in that state which 

 is known as cadaveric rigidity. A thermometer then quickly 

 introduced into the heart marks about 4'5 degrees.^ 



1 CI. Bernard, loc. dt., p. 231. 



[Note. A hilomitre, that is to say, a measure of a thousand 

 metres, is equal to rather more than five hundred fathoms. — 

 Teanslatoe.] 



