ON THE FUNCTIONS OF THE ORGANISM. 
353 
expenditures in animals, such as the sheep, whose skin is kept 
continually moist by its thick woolly covering; or like the horse, 
that is kept for a length of time at rapid exercise, by which 
become so energetically acted on the operations of respiration and 
circulation, and, as a consequence, likewise the secretory functions 
of the skin. 
But, in domestic animals, as yet no exact account has been kept 
of the amount by weight of matters cast off through the- double 
transpiration by the skin and lungs, and the respective parts those 
two organs play in the restitution made continually by the system 
to the atmosphere ; but, on the other hand, direct experiment has 
shewn, in the clearest manner, the close relation of function existing 
between the perspiratory and respiratory membranes. 
It is to Dr. Fourcault that physiology is indebted for this ad- 
mirable demonstration. 
To give an idea of the labour of this able experimentalist, we 
cannot do better than extract from the Report of the Committee of 
the Prizes Montgon awarded in 1840, by the Academy of Sciences, 
the following succinct exposition: — 
“ M. Fourcault’s labours,” says the reporter of the Institute, 
“ are divided into two parts : — 1. Is a series of experiments made on 
different species of animals ; 2. Consist of a series of pathological 
deductions endeavoured to be drawn by the author from them. 
“ M. Fourcault, with a view of observing through different 
species of animals the effects of the suppression of perspiration, 
conceived the notion of having the skins of certain live animals 
covered with varnish. After having been suitably prepared, some 
by being plucked, others by being shorn, he smeared them with 
varnish of variable composition ; the substances employed being tar, 
paste, glue, pitch, and other plastic matters. Sometimes these, one 
or more of them, were spread upon parts, sometimes upon the whole 
of the body. The effects of the operation have varied, shewing 
themselves soon or late afterwards, decisively or otherwise, accord- 
ing as the varnishing has been complete or general, or only partial, 
thick, thin, &c. In every instance the health of the animal has 
undergone strange alterations, and life has been grievously com- 
promised. Those that have been submitted to experiment under 
our eyes have succumbed in one, two, three days, and even at the 
expiration of some hours. 
“ In the opinion of the Committee, these experiments are full of 
warning. It is a fresh mode of inquiry into science introduced by 
M. Fourcault. The Committee have deemed it of consequence to 
make this public at once. Transferred to numberless other hands, 
to minds of varied character, and repeated in various places, the 
experiments of M. Fourcault cannot fail to cast new light upon 
