HIBERNATION 
were simply asleep in the ordinary sense of that condition, 
and not in a state of hibernation at all, for all the noise 
and rattling is insufficient to rouse it from its lethargy. 
An instance occurred to some pet marmots which our 
servant found one cold morning fast asleep, and believing 
them dead, consigned them to the dust-hole. They were, 
however, rescued before they were quite buried in the 
ashes that follow in the usual course of funerals. 
Many animals sleep soundly, and may be regarded as 
dormant, but not torpid ; but animals in a perfect state 
of hibernation are not only dormant, but torpid, a state in 
which the animal’s temperature is much lowered ; the 
respiration and circulation, together with the digestive 
functions, nearly cease, and the organs of secretion and 
excretion are inactive. In this condition but little air is 
required. This is clearly shown by the experiments 
published by Dr. Marshall Hall, p. 776 ; “ The respiration 
continues low, the temperature falls, and the animal can 
bear, for a short period, the abstraction of atmospheric 
air.” 
This calls strongly to mind the fact that the rough 
labouring population, who are possessed of enormous 
strength, which enables them to continue the most 
laborious work in mines and dismal places, sleep, when 
nature requires rest, the apparent sleep of death, in the 
most foul and stifling atmosphere, and wake up with the 
strength of refreshed giants. Whatever may be said or 
thought upon the necessity of well-ventilated and airy 
sleeping rooms, the fact of a large mass of our species 
living and doing well in a totally different state remains 
yet to be explained. Many generations of these powerful 
and robust men have existed without any apparent 
diminution in strength or courage, like bears and lions 
sleeping in caves and loathsome places. Contrast their 
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