NOVEMBER. 289 



temperature, the mouse no longer feeling like ice, and, I 

 think, the tail relaxed slightly. About two minutes later, 

 there was a jv^ell-marked, convulsive movement at the 

 neck, the head rising a short distance from the breast 

 and then resting against it again. This occurred at inter- 

 vals of about forty seconds, for four or five minutes, and 

 then ceased. In the mean while the tail uncurled, but did 

 not move when placed in different positions. 



For about three minutes the mouse seemed dead. I 

 could not detect its breathing, and when gently prodded it 

 did not flinch. Then suddenly the fore feet commenced 

 twitching at about one minute intervals. Five minutes 

 later, the hinder limbs likewise twitched, and a tremor 

 siezed the whole body. The movements collectively 

 strongly suggested that this tedious process of returning 

 to consciousness was decidedly painful ; which, of course, 

 it can not be. The general trembling and twitching 

 grew gradually more violent, but less rapid, and finally de- 

 veloped into long-drawn inspirations, or what appeared to 

 be such, and suggested more strongly than ever severe pain. 



At the elapse of forty minutes from the time of com- 

 mencing my observations, control of the limbs was ac- 

 quired and the mouse stood up; regaining its position 

 whenever pushed over on its side or turned upon its back. 

 It now appeared to be asleep merely, the violent respira- 

 tion or spasmodic thoracic movements that disturbed the 

 whole body having ceased. Fully ten minutes later the 

 eyes opened, but such a sheepish, sleepy look it had! 

 Still it kept them open and was evidently trying to collect 

 its thoughts, a task that required some time for it to 

 accomplish. 



I infer, from the movements of the animal, that it 

 was absolutely unconscious during the time the body was 

 steadily responding to the influence of the warm atmos- 

 phere surrounding it. 

 19 



