££ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WASHINGTON, D. C. GPO 16—67244-1 C��C AN INAUGURAL DISSERTATION: BEING AN A T T E MPT TO DISPROVE THE DOCTRINE OF THE PUTREFACTION of the BLOOD O F LIVING ANIMALS. SUBMITTED TO THE EXAMINATION OF THE Rev. JOHN EWING, S. T.P. Provost; The trustees, and medical professors of the university of pennsylvania, FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MEDICINE; On the 8th. day of May, A. D. 1793. By ADAMSEYBERT, of Philadelphia; Honorary Member of the Philadelphia, and Member of the American, Medical Societies. >V. PHIL AD ELPUIA. PRINTED BY T. DOBSON, AT THE STONE-HOUSE, NO. 41, SOUTH SECOND-STREET. M,DCC,XCIII. ^^6 ^^6p- TO THE REVEREND JUSTUS HENRY CHRISTIAN HELMUTH, D.D. Professor of the GERMAN LANGUAGE in thq University ofPENNSTLFANlA, &c. &c. &c. A S a fmall tribute of gratitude for his care and attention, in dire&ingand fuperintending my flu- dies, whhl& under, his tuition, at the Univerfity, i THIS DISSERTATION IS, Very refpe&fully inferibed, By his obliged friend, A. SETBERT. 39979$ To CASPAR WISTAR, M. D. Adjvnct Professor of ANATOMY, SURGERY, and IVIID- W1FERY in the UNIFERSITTot Pennstlfanja. Sir, IN addrefling this Inaugural DifTertation to you, every body that knows you will readily admit the peculiar pro- priety of the tribute. Your juflly acknowledged abilities leave no room to doubt that I have an intereff. in making this offering. But, whilft I candidly admit this, I feel and confefs profound obligations of gratitude to a belov- ed mailer, for his very beneficial infrrueYions, and his many courtefies and attentions. To whom can the following production, with more evident propriety, be infcribed, than to him who planted the Seed of Knowledge, and, with anxious folicitude, fuperintended the growth ?—To you, Sir, I am indebted for whatever progrefs I may have made in Medical Science; and I am ambitious, that the firif, fruits of my labors {hould be prefented to the world under the adorning fandtion of your patronage. The cordiality of your friendfhip has naturally infpired me with fentiments of efleem and attachment, which it will ever be my pride, as it is my duty and intereft, to cherifh. Btflieve me, Sir, nothing can ever obliterate from my mind tlie mingled fentiments of gratitude and efleem with which I remain Your obliged friend and Pupil, A. S E Y B E R T. INTRODUCTION, TH E Opinion, that the blood became putrid in many Difeafes, is of ancient date. It has been embra- ced, with various modifications by moft of the feels in Medicine. It particularly engaged the attention and be- lief of the learned Boerhaave, who publicly taught it in the celebrated fchool of Ley den. Under the impoliog authority of his name, and by means of his induftry, it was diffufed throughout almoft the whole globe. It be- came the theme of the vulgar ; and at this day has many great and illuftrious names to fupport it. There have been, however, at different times, a fer. fpecting the Putrefaction of the Blood of Living Animals, On examining the fubject, I found that it had never been put to the tefr. of fair experiment; but, that fpecula- tive realoning (too often delufive at beft) and a few inde- cifive facts, were the chief fupports of- the argument on both fides. With thefe data, the refult was neither fatis- factory nor convincing. I then determined to contribute my mite towards inveftigating the matter by experiment. In the profecution of this attempt, my attention has been directed to the advancement of Science; and, in the de- tailing of the Experiments which I have made with this view, truth fhall be my polar flar. I have been induced from reflection and experiment to adopt a pofkive belief on this fubject, and to deny the truth of the doctrine which I have jufl noticed. I am, therefore, necefTarily led into an oppofition to the opinions of many celebrated men. But, I truft, I have obferved a decent regard and veneration for thofe from whom I dif- fent, without being at all deprefled by the weight of their authority. Having viewed nature attentively, I fhall en- deavour to communicate accurately what I have obferved. I will not facrifice truth to the luflre of great names, but, with confidence adopt the fentiment of Cicero—" Mea fuit fen. per hoec in hac re voluntas et fententia, quemyis ut hoc mallem de iis, qui effent idonei, iufcipere quam me: me, ut mallem quam neminem." INAUGURAL DISSERTATION, tT will be proper, before I enter upon the confideratiori A of the Putrefaction of the Blood of living Animals, to take & brief view of PutrefaBion in general\ for, this is, indeed, the only method by which we can be prepared for an examination of the circumftances hecefTary to in- duce that ftate of the blood in living animals. Though Chemiftry is much improved, and numerous difcoveries are made almoft every day, by different phi- lofophers, PutrefaBion is, at this moment confidered as the fame difficult fubject, that it was in the days of the celebrated Lord Bacon. This laft ftage of Fermentation, in the days of Stanly Was fuppofed to be a mere confequence of the vinous and acetous ftages *, but, modern difcoveries teach, us the con- trary ; for we find, that while fome fubflances undergo only the laft ftagej others fiiffer the three fucceffive changes in a regular manner: thus mucilages* &c. become acid without undergoing the vinous fermentation, and the glutinous matter of vegetables will putrefy before it un- dergoes either of the other changes. B Obfervation, C xo 1 Obfervation, the grand parent of difcovery, has taught us, that no fubftance is capable of undergoing a change by the putrefactive fermentation, except it be animal or ve- getable ; and that the numerous claffes of the productions of nature, comprehended under the title of the Mineral King- dom, are excluded. It is alfo an opinion, generally efta- blifhed, and proved by experiment, that the fluid and fofter parts of thofe bodies, putrefy much fooner than the harder and more folid parts. It has likewifebeen obferv- ed, " That the flefh of younger animals is fomewhat more prone to putridity, than that of older animals."* Animal and vegetable matters cannot putrefy in every fituation or condition in which they may exift ; for it is neceffary that a living animal or vegetable fhould undergo a confiderable change, before it can be rendered capable thereof: It mull even be deprived of life, or the vital principle. No one has ever feert an entire animal or vege- table putrefy whilft alive; and Beccher, on this fubject,- beautifully obferves : " Caufa putrefadtionis primaria defectiis fpiritus vitalis balfamini eft." Andy indeed, in all refearches into thofe kingdoms which are the fubjects1 of fermentation, it is of fo great confequence to keep this univerfal actuating principle in view, that by neglecting it, we may commit great miftakes, and look to other caufes than the true ones for its palpable effects ; infomuch that the learned Chaptal, when regretting the imperfect fuc-< cefs which Chemiftry has met with, in the arialyfis of ani- mal matters, cannot help obferving it. " All (fays he) have miftaken or overlooked that principle of life which inceffantly acts upon the folids and fluids, modifies, with- out ceafing, the impreffion of external objects ; impede? the * Medical Commentaries, Vol. II. p. 142. -the degenerations which depend on the conftitution itfelf *, and prefents to us. phenomena which chemiftry never could have known or predicted by attending to the invari- able laws obferved in inanimate bodies." * The prefenoe of that i.nvifible elaftic fluid, which we term vital air, is fo neceffary to putrefaction, that a body cannot putrefy without being in contact with it; and may be preferved found and pure for years if the commu- nication between them be deftroyed. It is a well known -fact that a body will not putrefy in vacuo: This has been noticed by an ingenious author in the following words : il How much the air contributes to putrefaction, is evi- dent hence, that bodies buried deep under the earth, or in water, out of the reach of air, fhall remain for ages entire; which yet, being expofed to the open air, {hall foon rot and moulder away." j- It appears that too great a degree of moifture, or a to- tal want of it, retards the procefs of putrefaction. In or- der, therefore, that a body may putrefy, it is neceffary that it be only duly moiftened. Thus it happens, that after an animal or vegetable fubftance has been made per- fectly dry, it may be preferved, in that ftate, for many years after. It has been obferved by the immortal Bec- cher, that too great a degree of moifture prevents putre- faction : Thefe are his words : "Nimia quoque humiditas a putrefactione impedit, prout nimius calor ; nam corpora in aqua potius gradatim confumi quam putrefcere, fi nova femper affluens fit, experientia docet: unde longo tempore integra * Chaptal's Chemiftry, Vol. IN. p. 280, f Frewen's Phyfiologia, p. 128. E ** 3 Integra interdum fubmerfa prorfus a putrefadtione immunia, vidimus ; adeo ut nobis aliquando fpeculatio occurreret, tradtando tali modo cadavera anatomise fubjicienda, quo. diutius a foetore et putrefadtione immunia forent."^ That all enlivening principle, heaty which, in a certain degree, is neceffary to life, is no lefs neceffary to the bringing on of the diffolution of a body. Temperature, has been found to have great influence in promoting and retarding putrefadtion. I have now mentioned the moft effential rircumftances neceffary to promote the inception of putrefaction; to which we may fubjoin Reft.; for bodies do not putrefy while in continual motion. In proportion as thefe cir- cumftances take place the procefs will advance with greater or leffer rapidity. Certain fubflances, as well known to the vulgar as to, the philofopher, by the name of Ferments, when added to a fermentable mafs, are found to haften. the procefs in a manner truly aftonifhing •, though both the peafant and the philofopher ftand on an equal footing with regard to a knowledge of the principle by which their application, produces a fpecific operation. " We are told indeed (fays the ingenious Mr. Henry) that a vinous ferment induces the vinous, that a ferment of an acetous kind brings on, the acetous fermentation, and a putrid one, that fermen- tation which ends in putrefadtion. But we receive no more information, relative to the manner in which they produce thofe effects, than we do with regard to fermen- tation itfelf."f I will * Phyf. Sub. lib. z. f. 5. cap. 1. p. 277.. \ Manchester Memoirs, Vol. II. p. 259. ■E-13-1 I will now1 proceed to, examine, whether, in becoming putrid, a body undergoes any confiderable change ; and, whether it be poffib.le to remove putrefcency after it has taken place. The very meaning of the word putrcfaBion conveys the idea that an effential change muft have taken pli\ee in any fubftance which has acquired a putrid ftate, Putrefaction reduces both animals and vegetables to the fame principles, for, it caufes an entire and complete de- compofition of them, infomuch that it is difficult, and in- deed impoifible, to diftinguifh between a putrefied mafs of animal and one of vegetable matter. The former charadteriftics of each are at an end. Colour, texture, and every fenfible quality of the body, are thereby deflroyed. It reduces the animate part of the Creation to an indifcri- minate level whh inanimate matter. There is abundance of truth in the obfervation, that bodies, in this procefs, un- dergo a new combination, as well as feparation of their conftituent parts. Putrefaction caufes the fweeteft fub- flances, to become the moft offenfive and difagreeable to. thefmell; and, inftead of a vegetable acid, at length pro- duces a volatile alkali—bodies poffeffing very oppofite principles. Manyphilofophers have gone fo far as to fay, that, by certain chemical proceffes, they were able not only to render putrid fubflances fweet again, but reftore them tq the condition they were in, previoufly to their undergo- ing this peculiar change, This, according to them, is to to be effected by fur rounding the putrefied body with an atmofphere of fixed air: to the lofs of which principle, an enlightened [ 14 ] enlightened philofopher wholly attributed the changes produced in a body by putrefaction ; though the opinion has been ingenioufly refuted, and therefore needs not much confideration in this place*. It is true, that by furrounding a putrefied body with fixed air, we fhall prevent the advancement of the pro- cefs ; yet the fixed air has no fpecific operation in this re- fpedt, for other fubflances poffefs a fimilar property. Af- ter I had fuffered feveral pieces of highly putrid beef to remain completely covered with frefh pump water for feveral hours, and then warned them frequently in water feveral times renewed, I found, that by this operation the water gained a highly offenfive and putrid fmell, and that the meat had loft a great degree of its own ; but its folidi- ty was not in the leaft reftored. It is a common and well-known fact in domeftic ceconomy, that meat, which has become tainted, is very frequently wafhed in frefh water before it is cooked ; and the reafon affigned for this procefs is, that the meat is thereby rendered fweeter. Thus do houfe-keepers reafon from a knowledge of the fact without any theory to bias them. Hence it appears very clear, that to explain this fact po fpecific operation is neceffary to be recurred to, fince water, free from the combination of fixed air, had effects fimilar to thofe produced by fixed air itfelf. Mr. Chap- tal, in my opinion, explains the operation of this, and of the other fubflances which are faid to have the like effect, upon very fimple and philofophical principles. When fpeaking of the neceffity of the prefence of vital air to putrefaction^ * Medical Commentaries, Vol, II. p. 150. C i$ 1 putrefaction, he fays, " We fhall obferve, on this fubject, that the effects obferved in flefh expofed to the Carbonic acid, Nitrogene gas, &c. are referable to a fimilar caufe; and it appears to me that it is without fufficient proof that a conclufion has been drawn, that thefe fame gafes, internally taken, ought to be confidered as antifeptic 5 becaufe, in the cafes we have mentioned, they act only by defending the bodies they furround from the contact of vital air, which is the principle of putrefaction *." To me it appears plain, that, fo great is the chemical change and decompofition which a putrid body has un- dergone, that no means can remedy it. On this point Fontana truly obferves, "We do not knowT any power^ nature herfelf does not difclofe any, that can recompofe an organ that is deftroyed, and entirely decompofed by putrefaction, or by the concuffions of external bodies* This is what has never yet either been accomplifhed or feen. We have, therefore, every poffible reafon not only to believe an animal that is reduced to this ftate deadj but likewife to believe it dead for ever f." From the above confidef ation of putrefaction, as going on out of the body, it appears, that a certain degree of heat, the prefence of vital air, a certain degree of moif. ture, together with reft, are indifpenfably neceffary to putrefaction; and that without their prefence no body can putrefy. We alfo know, that by adding certain fub- flances to bodies which are to undergo the changej the procefs is haftened in a manner furprifing to every one who has ever had occafion to notice it. Having * Chaptal's Chemiftry, Vol. III. p. 398. f Fontana on Poifons, Vol. I. p. 406* C 16" 3 Having confidered the circumftances in which fermen- tation, in general, takes place, as it is conceivable that if the above circumftances be prefent in the living animal, ihe procefs might readily go on in it'—let us examine if thefe neceffary requisites be prefent, fo as to act in a due and proper manner upon that vital fluid, the blood. Several queftions occur here.:—Is there any difference between dead and living matter ?—Is there hot in living animals a pofitive power of refiftirig putrefaction ?—- Whether the nice and inexplicable Operation which is employed in converting the dull mafs of the motionlefs creation into the peculiar condition of organic fenfibilityj adts to no purpofe ?:—In fact, whether the principal cha- radteriftic of death, has not been determined by phyfiolo- gifts to be the beginning of putrefaction in the body \ The principle We denominate vital, with whofe effects we begin to be acquainted* though its nature and origin will perhaps ever be hidden from us, is found to be the chief impediment to the putrefaction of a living animal-. As foott as the animal is deprived of it, putrefaction is the inevitable confequence, except the above precautions be well obferved. This may be fairly demonftrated. All the circumftances neceffary to putrefaction take place ^ith refpedt to the external furface of our bodies, yet they do not putrefy while alive \ but if life be by any means deftroyed, they will as readily undergo the pro- cefs as other inanimate matter^ It is to be obferved, that by the living principle is un- derflood that power which in an animal actuates its whole fyflem, or from which is derived fenfation, moti- 3 6ns t iT ] on, and the other qualities of life. It is the caufe of the prefervation of the body from diffolution, and is capable of exifting, for fometime, under a fufpenfion of all its actions *. We will now proceed to confrder the prefence of heat, pure air, moifture, and reft, with regard to the blood; in order to determine whether we might expect a putre- faction of that fluid if the principle of life, were not alone fufficient to obviate it. ifl. Of Heat. Though different degrees of heat are found fufficient to maintain life, in different animals, yet no animal while alive has ever been found devoid of a con- fiderable quantity of it; indeed, fo careful was nature in this refpedt, that (he has endowed man, and the inferior animals, with a power, whereby they are capable of ge- nerating heat;—a procefs the investigation of which has of late much engaged the attention of philofophers, and upon which confiderable light has been thrown. It is probable that the blood of every living animal contains a degree of heat fufficient to fupport the procefs of putre- faction. 2dly. Pure Air. That element fo neceffary to our ex- iflence, and which we receive into our bodies, by means of thofe vital vifcera, the lungs, is no lefs neceffary to the maintaining of animal life, than to the procefs of putre- faction. A man will no more live, than a dead body will purefy, in vacuo +. g it * Gardiner's Animal Economy, p. 3. f That air is a very active and powerful agent in putrefaction* is evident from the following faft, viz. Whilft pus remains fliut up in I 18 ] It was for a long time fuppofed that elaftic air exifled in the blood-veffels of living animals ; but, the experi- ments of the ingenious Darwin clearly prove the con- trary ; the following is one of them. "Part of the jugu- lar vein of a fheep, full of blood, was included between two tight ligatures, and cut out while the animal Was yet alive. It was immediately put into a glafs.of warm water, and placed in the receiver of an air pump. It funk at firft to the bottom of the water, and, did not rife again, although the air was carefully exhaufted. After this, it was wiped dry, and laid on the brafs floor of the receiver. The air was again exhaufted, but there was not the leaft vifible expanfion of the vein or its contents *." By the experiments above referred to it is reduced to a certainty, that no air exifts, formally in the blood, while enclofed in the blood-veffels. And it is evident, that it was without fufficient grounds, that philofophers infer- red, that air exifled in the blood, while enciofed in the blood-veffels ; becaufe they perceived it in blood drawn f?om a vein, and placed in the receiver of an air pump ; for during its expofure it muft have had time to abforb air from the atmofphere. The celebrated Huxham was of opinion, that, " elaftic air is probably generated in the arterial and venous fyf. terns, in a perfectly clofe cavity it will keep fweet and inodorous, but on expofure to the atmofphere, it contrails in a very fhort time a pu- trid fmell ; tliefame circumflance takes place with regard to extra,- *?afated blood. * Medical Commentaries, Vol. VI. p* 35, [ 19 ] tems, in putrid fevers *," though he has no experiments to prove it. Let us then examine, whether air can exift in the blood-veffels of living animals. With this view the ingenious Luzuriaga tried many ex- periments on living dogs. He injected feveral different kinds of air into the blood-veffels, and in every inftance the animals were killed, in a very fhort time. I will only mention that he twice injected inflammable air •, once phlo- gifticated air •, once fixed air; once nitrous air. I will flate the particular circumftances that happened in the inftance, when dephlogifticated or pure air, which is the chief agent of putrefaction, was injected.—It was forced into the jugular vein of a dog, and in three minutes he died. On diffedtion, the blood appeared of a lively red colour, and frothy, but not grumous nor coagulated f. Thus it appears, that air does not, and cannot exift, for- mally, in the blood-veffels of a living animal j a circum- flance which refutes the opinion, that the blood is capa- ble of undergoing the procefs of of putrefaction, during the life of the animal. 3dly. Moifture. No perfon in his fenfes dares to deny the prefence of this third circumflance, as effential to pu- trefaction, and therefore it needs no further confideration. 4thly. We have mentioned that it was neceffary for a body, which is to undergo the putrefactive procefs, to be at reft. The continual motion of the blood of living animals, * Medical Qbfervations, Vol. III. p. 36. f Luzuriaga's Inaug. Diflertat. Eden. 1786, p. 16. [ 20 3 animals, muft certainly be a great impediment to the pro- cefs ; and indeed motion has been found to be a very effec- tual means of preventing it; even a brifk wind has been known to retard it *. We have found that the life of the animal, the want of air in the blood-veffels, and its circulatory motion, were great impediments to the putrefadtion of the blood ; we fhall now proceed to confider, whether the principle of K, ■ * ;*nimal life is contained in, the blood. The fituation of that principle, to which we owe our exiftence as living beings, is at prefent much difputed. While fome Phyfiologifts will have it to exift wholly in the nervous fyftem, in the form of a fubtle fluid, whofe prefence the beft microfcopes have not been able to difco- ver ; there are others, whofe authority is by no means infe- rior, who ftrenuoufly oppofe the doctrine, and perfift that blood partakes of italfo. In this latter clafs we may rank the celebrated Hunter and Fontana. That the life of the animal exifts in the blood, is an opinion of as ancient a date as Holy Writ itfelf: It was the favourite fentimentof many ancient philofophers; and the great Harvey, to whom we are fo much indebted, fays, *c the blood is the primum vivens, and the ulti;mum mori^ ens, of the animal." This hypothefis was for fometime funk into oblivion,but was again revived and placed on a firm bafis by the able Mr. John Hunter of London ; who fupports the doctrine bv * Medical Commentaries, Vol. II. p. 146. [ 21 ] by reafbning truly philofophical, and by experiments, in my opinion, incontrovertibly convincing. It would be needlefs for me to repeat all the ingenious arguments which are made ufe of by him on this occafion, as they may be eafily feen, by referring to the Encyclopcedia, Vol. III. P- 3T3- His 5th argument alone would almoft fuffice to convince me of the truth of his opinion. " The blood (fays he) preferves life in the different parts of the body. When the nerves going to a part are tied or cut, the part becomes paralytic, and loofes all power of motion ; but it does not mortify j if the artery be cut, the part dies, and mortifi- cation enfues. What keeps it alive in the firft place ? Mr. Hunter believes it is the living principle which alone can keep it alive •, and he thinks that this phenomenon is inex- plicable on any other fuppofition, than that life is fupport- ed by the blood"*. This doctrine is every day gaining ground •, and ap- pears to be further fupported by the opinions and experi- ments, of the celebrated Fontana •, who obferves, "What may lead one to fufpedt, that a very active and volatile principle does really exift in the blood, is, that the vipers venom prevents its coagulation when it is drawn from the veffels, and on the contrary, produces it in the veffels them- felves. One would fuppofe (fays he) in the firft cafe, that fomething had flown off from the blood, which exifts in it when it is enclofed by the veffels" f. t* My experiments on animals (continues this laft menti- oned cnlighted philofopher) in which the nerves were bit * Encyclopcedia Loc. citat. f Fontana on Poifons, Vol. II. p. 135, [ 22 ] by vipers, fhew that the venom is a fubftance perfectly inno- cent to thefe organs, that it does not occafion in them any fenfible change, and that they are not even a means ©r vehi- cle of conveying it to the animal. In a word, it appears that the nervous fyflem does not concur more to the pro- duction of the difeafes of the venom, than does the ten- don, or any other infenfible part of the animal : on the other hand, all the experiments on the blood, the injec- tion of venom into the veffels, and fo i<^pn conflantly evince that the action of the venom of the viper is on the blood itfelf. This fluid is alone changed by the venom, and this fluid conveys the venom to the animal, and diflri- butes it to its whole body. The action of the venom, and its effects on the blood, are almoft inftantaneous."* His experiments, in my opinion, allow this inference, that fince life was not deflroyed by the immediate applica- tion of the poifon to the bare nerves, and that the lofs of it was almoft inftantaneous when the poifon was applied to the blood ; there exifts fome quality in the blood, that does not exift in the nerves ; and as death can only be pro- duced by deflroying the vital principle, this principle muft confequently exift in the blood, and in a ftate different from that in which it exifts in the nervous fyflem. . I will now proceed to give a connected view of the rea- fons, which" together with the experiments hereafter to be mentioned, induce me to deny the putrefaction of the blood to have ever taken place, and which confirm me in believ- ing, that no fuch change can happen in the blood of liv- ing animals. i ft. We * Fontana on Poifons, Vol. I. p. 356. [ n 1 ift. We have feen that the procefs of putrefaction can* not take place in the animal or vegetable kingdoms, until after the animal or plant be deprived of life. I think we have given fome proof of the blood's containing the prin- ciple of Animal Life, of which (whether it be convincing or not) the candid will judge. When life, is once perfectly deflroyed, there are no means, at our command, by which it can be again reflored: therefore, we muft infer, that all putrid cafes are neceffarily mortal, or a putrefaction of the blood cannot take place. 2dly. From viewing the procefs of mortification, as go- ing on in the folid parts of animals—for the death of the part invariably precedes the fymptoms of putrefcency, as is evidenced by the want of fenfibility in the part. 3dly. There is no vital air in the blood-veffels, and we know putrefaction cannot go on without it. 4thly. The blood in the living animal is in continual motion—a fmall degree of motion has been known to im- pede the procefs. large quantity of the before-mentioned flatus, and a fluid of a yellowifh colour-. At its lower orifice it appeared rather preternaturally red. All the other vifcera were ia. a found and natural ftate. The \seins appeared much diftended -, and air, intermixed with with blood, of a dark venous colour, appeared through their coats. When I cut into the veffels, air came out in bubbles, together with the blood. The blood did not ap- pear to be very firmly coagulated. The heart was much diftended with blood, particularly the right auricle, which contained fome air alfo.—In the heart the coagulation was more perfect than it was in the veins. The blood did not fmell in the leaft putrid. EXPE- [ 43 ] EXPERIMENT X. Was alfo performed July 29th. 1792, on a bitch in good health. About a drachm of pus, diluted with a fmali quantity of clear pump water, was injected into one of het -femoral veins. The pus was obtained on the 27th. inft. from an abfcefs of "the intercoflal mufcles. This da}' it poffefres a putrid fmell. During the injection of the matter, fhe had two very violent fits of convulfion, the laft of which continued.for fome time, and fhe appeared to be in great pain ; respira- tion was quick and irregular; the heart beat frequently, though with fome force. The pulfations were fmall and irregular, accompanied with frequent intermiffions, and to all appearance fhe was dying. When fhe was placed in a cool fituation, the refpiration became lefs difficult, and the action of the heart more regular. She continued in this ftate and lay quiet for fome time, when a mercuri- al thermometer was applied to the axilla, and the mercury rofe to ioo°, as it did when it was applied before fhe underv/ent the experiment. After lying about twenty minutes in a cool place, (he got up and attempted to walk, but was very weak, and did not go far before fhe fell down; after which fhe feemed again to recover. At 30 minutes paft 7 o'clock fhe was feized with twitching* of the mufcles of her abdomen and lower jaw -, the weak- nefs encreafed; at length fhe became motionlefs ; and at 15 minutes before 8 o'clock, about an hour and an half after the injection, fhe was dead. DiJfeBion. [ 44 1 DiJeBien.-~The body was not examined till Monday morning the 30th. about 14 hours and an half after (he died. The abdomen was confiderably diftended, I made an incifion into it, but found that no air efcaped—about 2 oz. of a lympid fluid was found effufed in the cavity. The inteftines were much diftended, and when an incifion was made into them, air and faeces come out. The fto- mach was likewife much diftended with air and half di- gtfted food. The fame preternatural rednefs about the lower orifice, which occurred in the former cafe, appear- ed alfo in this. The other abdominal vifcera appeared perfectly natural and found The heart was much difi- tendedc.with blood, but no air was found in it or the blood-veffels. The blood was more firmly coagulated than that mentioned in the laft Experiment, and it had no unnatural fmell. EXPERIMENT XI. Auguft 6th. 1792. A drachm of fluid matter, produc- ed by highly putrid beef, was diluted with four drachms of putrid pump water, and injected into one of the femo- ral veins of an healthy dog. The matter was injected at half- an hour after 11 o'clock. During the injection he was much convulfed, and appeared to be in -great pain. The pupils of the eyes were fomewhat dilated. The beating of the heart was now very frequent, though feeble, as it was during the injection of the matter. At .15 minutes before 12 o'clock the breathing became very frequent, accompanied with great difficulty and fighing. At this time he vomit- ed C 45 ] ed a quantity of half digefted food, and appeared to.be - greatly relieved by it; at 12 o'clock he vomited again, which relieved him fo that he rofe, but in one or two minutes laid down again. At 4 minutes paft 12 he had an evacuation of feces—at 7 minutes after 12 he attempt- ed to lay down, but fell, and laid in an unnatural pof- ture—he appeared to be very weak—his breathing became more difficult and laborious—his eyes appeared watry and funk in the orbits. At 10 minutes paft 12 he had another evacuation of faeces. At 15 minutes after 12 he was raifed up on his feet—he flood, though with difficulr ty, and his left hind leg became paralytic *. In a (hort time all his hind parts appeared to be more or lefs affect- ed in this manner. At 40 minutes after 12 he became very reftlefs, turning and twifting his body every way. At 45 minutes after 12 he was again raifed upon his feet, but could not fland, for all his mufcles appeared greatly relaxed. At il o'clock the pupils of his eyes were much dilated, and his fight feemed to be greatly dimi- nifhed—he had an evacuation of urine. He began to groan, and the abdominal mufcles were convulfed. The convulfions, after continuing fome time in thofe parts, extended to the mufcles of his head and neck. Refpira- tion, and the action of the heart ceafing, he died at 12 minutes paft 10 o'clock. DiffeBion. The body was examined immediately after death, and nothing unuiual was obferved. The blood was quite natural in every refpect. EXPE- * The incifion in this Experiment was made on the right thigh. C 4* 3 EXPERIMENT XII. Auguft 10th. 1792. Twelve grains of putrid blood, diluted with u drachm of clear pump water, were in- jected into one of the femoral veins of an healthy bitch, at thirty-five minutes paft 10 o'clock. During the injection fhe feemed uneafy, and had an evacuation of urine. The action of the heart became much flower, and very feeble. Refpiration was fomewhat difficult. She was then placed on the floor, and continued ftanding — 12 minutes after fhe had a natural motion from the rectum, arid then laid down. At 11 o'clock her eyes were examined, and they did not appear any way preter- natural. She feemed dull, heavy, and much inclined to fleep. At 12 o'clock I perceived that fhe had had ano- ther evacuation of urine. The eyes were now examined again, and no alteration appeared to have taken place in them. She laid quiet till half paft 1 o'clock, when vio- lent efforts to vomit came on, and fhe brought up a quantity of the food fhe had eaten previoufly to the per- forming of the experiment. The heart beat very fre- quent and feeble—refpiration was not greatly affected, but fhe continued dull and heavy. At 2 o'clock meat and drink were offered her—fhe would not even bear the fmell of meat, but rofe and drank fome water. She laid down. At half paft 2 o'clock (he got up again, walked about, and evacuated urine ; then laid down again, and was dull and heavy as before. At 5 minutes before 5 o'clock (he had another evacuation of urine. At 3 mi- nutes before 5 fhe had a very copious evacuation of ex- tremely fluid faeces, of the colour of coffee-grounds, and of a very putrid fmell. She now appeared weaker than fhe [ 47 1 fixe was before the evacuation, jthough net quite fo dull, At 6 o'clock fhe evacuated urine again* I left her at 25 minutes after 6, when circumftances did not appear much altered. At 8 o'clock I faw her again, meat and drink were offered her—fhe drank, but would not eat. The) heart beat very frequent and feeble—in other refpedts as before. Auguft 1 ith. This morning, at 8 o'clock, I found her dead. A difagreeable odour arofe from her body. The abdomen appeared fomewhat diftended. I perceived (he had had another loofe evacuation of the defcription above, mentioned, though not fo copious as the former one. There was a great deal of faliva about the mouth, and the tongue protruded through the teeth. On DijfeBion, the following appearances were obferved. Upon cutting into the cavity of the abdomen, no air ef- caped, but I experienced a very difagreeable f cetid fmell. The fuperior parts of the inteftines appeared in feveral places of a dark green colour, fpotted with fmall white fpecks, while the lower portions appeared natural. When an incifion was made into the inteftines, a quantity of putrid air rufhed out, together with liquid dark green coloured feces. The ftomach appeared to be rather fmall—I made an incifion into it when fome of the like liquor flowed out. The liver was in many places of a preternatural colour, and adhered to almoft all the other abdominal vifcera, particularly to the ftomach and right kidney. The gall-bladder was much diftended with a light green coloured bile -, the lungs were collapfed ; the right lobes were of a blackifh colour, intermixed with red; the left lobes appeared natural. The red appear- ance C 4* ll arice at the lower orifice of the ffcmack, mentioned in the other -cafes, was/ not apparent in this. The veins and heart were much diftended with blood, which was not-very firmly coagulated, but its fmell was perfectly natural. • ; EXPERIMENT XIII. Auguft 14th. 1792. At 40 minutes; after 10 o'clock fix grains of putrid blood, mixed with a drachm and an ha,lf of clear pump water* were, injected into one of the femoral veins of,a- tjitch.. During ;the.tinjedlion fhe ap- peared very uneafy—th,e action of the heart was flow and feeble—refpiration flow, and performed with difficulty. She was placed on the, floor, appeared -dull,', and/ laid. down. At 10 minutes before 11 ^o'clock her abdominal mufcles wqre violently convulfed. •• At 7 minutes .b.efote.* 11 fhe was feized with violent retchings and) efforts tp,_vo-.. mit, but did not evacuate. .. At 15 minutes before 3, o'clock meat and c^rink were offered her—fhe ate, but would not drink. At 23 minutes before 7 (lie had a copious evacu- ation of urine. At 20 minutes before 7 fhe a^te and.drank. I left her at 15 minutes before 7, when fhe feemed eafy. I faw her again at 8 o'clock |nd no alteration was eve-. vident. Auguft 15th. This morning, at 8 o'clock, I faw her— fhe appeared perfectly eafy—action of the heart nearly natural, though rather frequent. She was now, fed, and ate as before. I perceived that fhe had had a natural e- vacuatiori of feces. At 21 minutes after 5 blood was drawn—its colour and fmell were* natural—it was coagu- lated at 24 minutes after 5—the feparation Into ferum and 1 craffamentum C 49 3 craffamentum was evident at 30 minutes after 5—a piece of the paper ftained bh»e was dipped into the ferum, and no change of colour took place—the ferum and coagulum were quite natural. I faw her again at 8 o'clock. She appeared as fhe did when in health. Auguft 16th. She was perfectly well. EXPERIMENT XIV. Auguft 17th. 1792. At 15 minutes after 12 o'clock twelve grains of putrid blood, mixed with a drachm and an half of clear pump water, were injected into one of the humeral veins of the bitch' laft mentioned. During the injec- tion, fhe cried violently, and appeared to be in great pain. Refpiration became very frequent—action of the heart frequent and feeble. The eyes were examined, and the pupils were found to be much contracted. 'She was placed on the floor, walked a few fteps, leaned againft the wall, in a ftanding pofture, and appeared very fick. At 26 minutes after 12 fhe had an evacuation of feces, which was rather loofe. At half paft 12 fhe laid down, appeared dull, and much inclined to fleep. At half paft 2 the abdominal mufcles were affected with convulfive contractions—they did not continue long. The eyes were again examined, and the pupils appeared natural. At 3 minutes before 5 fhe had a copious evacuation of urine. At "10 minutes after 6 I left her eating, and to appearance eafy, though dull and languid. I faw her again at 8 o'clock, when I perceived fhe had had another loofe evacuation of feces, which was copious. Pulfatioa of the heart frequent and feebe—fhe appeared eafy. G Auguft C SP Jl Auguft 18th. Blood was drawn at 5 minutes before 6 o'clock P. M.—its colour and fmell were natural —it was coagulated at 6—at $ five minutes after 6 it feparated into ferum and craffamentum—coagulum and ferum were quite natural—Serum did not change the pa- per ftained blue. At 8 fhe appeared perfectly well. Auguft 19th. She was perfectly well. The blood, which was drawn yefterday, had a natural odour, when it was examined this morning at 11 o'clock. EXPERIMENT XV. Auguft 20th. 1792. At 4 minutes before n o'clock, half a drachm of putrid blood and a drachm of clear pump- water, were injected into one of the humoral veins of the laft mentioned bitch during the injection, fhe was very un- eafy and gave feveral loud fhrieks. The heart beat very frequent and feeble. Refpiration became very difficult. She was placed on the floor, and immmediately after had a copious evacuation from the ftomach. She ap- peared very weak, and leaned againft the wall. At 7 minutes after 11, (lie had retchings and violent efforts to vomit, b ut no evacuation enfued. At 32 minutes after . n, fhe began to groan and figh. At five minutes af- ter 12, fhe had eftbrts to vomit, but nothing was thrown up. I left her at 15 minutes before 1 ; fhe drank, and appeared eafy, though fhe was very weak. I faw her again at 2 o'clock, the heart beat very frequent and feeble. I perceived fhe had had an evacuation of feces, while I was abfent—it was rather loofe. Meat and drink were offered her -, fhe drank, but did not eat. She appeared very fick. 2 I faw C 5* ] I faw her again at 8'clock, when fhe appeared juft as fhe was at 2 o'clock. Auguft 21 ft. Blood was drawn at 2 minutes before 5 o'clock P. M. its colour and fmell were natural—it was coagulated at 3 minutes after 5—feparation into fe- rum and craffamentum was evident at 9 minutes after 5 —the coagulum and ferum were perfectly natural—the ferum did not change the color of the paper ftained blue. At 8 o'clock fhe appeared very well. Auguft 22d. Serum of the blood drawn yefterday, did not change the colour of the paper ftained blue, EXPERIMENT XVI. Auguft 22d. 1792. At n o'clock, a drachm of putrid blood mixed with half a drachm of clear pump water, was injected into one of the crural veins of the bjtch laft men- tioned. During the injection, the action of the heart be- came very frequent and feeble. Refpiration very labori- ous. She vomited. After this fhe was placed on the floor, and appeared very weak, yet flood for fome mi- nutes, and then fell down gently. At 8 minutes after 11, (he had an evacuation of urine and of feces. At 14 mi- nutes after 11, the eyes were examined ; the pupils were found to be very much contracted, and her fight much di- minifhed. At 16 minutes after 11, fhe had another eva- cuation of urine. At 19 minutes after 11, fhe began to cry violently, and appeared to be in very great pain. The refpi- ration became very laborious, and the action of the heart encreafed in frequency and feeblenefs. At 23 minutes af- ter L 52 ] ter u, fhe became convulfed. ■ At 25 minutes after 11, a finger was drawn over the eye, and no contraction of the eye-lids took place. At 28 minutes after 11, fhe was dead. DiffeBion. The examination of the body took place at % minutes after 12 o'clock. AH the vifcera were found in a found and natural ftate, exceptsthelungs-r-there a bloody effufion was discovered, particularly in the inferior parts of the left lobes. At 20 minutes after 12, blood was obtained by opening ene of the large veins ; the colour and fmell were natural. When I left the blood, it was not fo perfectly coagulated, as in the other inftances, ow- ing to its having been by accident much agitated. I return- ed in the afternoon, and found the-coagulation complete— the coagulum and ferum were natural—the ferum did not change a piece of paper ftained blue. EXPERIMENT XVII. Auguft r4th. 1792. At 16minutes after 3 o'clock, ftx grains of putrid blood, diluted with a drachm of clear pump water, were injected into one of the femoral veins of an healthy dog. During the injedlion, he was very uneafy and gave feveral loud fhrieks. The action of the heart became fo feeble, that it could fcarcelv be felt, and was alfo frequent. He was placed on the floor, when he lay down. In a fliort time he rofe up, flood fometime, and appeared very weak. Refpiration became laborious, and he lay down again. At 15 minutes before 4 o'clock, he was feized with twitchings about the botttom of, and acrofs the thorax, in a great degree refembling an hiccup. At [ 53 3 At 4 minutes after 4, meat and drink were offered him; he would not drink, and feemed as if defirous to eat; but when he approached near the meat, he drew his head from it, as if the fmell of it were offenfive to him, though the meat was frefh killed this morning. At 2 minutes be- fore 5, he had an evacuation of urine, and rather a loofe evacuation from the rectum. At 4 minutes after 5 he had a copious evacuation from the ftomach, when the action of the heart became perceptible to the touch. At 20 minutes af- ter 5, he had violent efforts to vomit, and broughtup aqiian- itty of greenifh coloured fluid. At 34 minutes after 5,they recurred again, with the like effea. They attacked him a third time at 3 minutes before 6 ; the confequence was the fame as in both the former inftances. I left him at 15 minutes before 7 o'clock, when he was eating and drinking. yi He feemed eafy.'^ «™^ ! ^ midu3s6- aH>. v^d banicft tiquq t > 'iosrq s agn&r''* I faw him again at 8 o'clock, when he appeared heavy. I perceived that fince I had left him, he had had a fparing evacuation of feces, rather loofe.% 3 *I X d *'Auguft 15th. This morning at 8- o'clock,- he appeared dull, heavy and weak. The action of the heart was fre- quent and feeble. He was now fed. u At 2 o'clock, I faw him again f he was as defcribed in the morning, ad ok V srli 1o n<;-i■>; or!T -e^hnrubuf .gi^v. -hn.s yuanr* h At 5 ^o'clock, blood was drawn—the colour and fmell were natural—it coagulated at 4 minutes after 5—fepara- tion into ferum and craffamentum took place, at 12 mi- nutes after 5-—the colour of the paper ftained blue was not changed by the ferum—The coagulum and ferum were Lna * mt 1} jvodt. perfectly limirf ns gniidrfbTs'T 6rr- .,•.*!' art* uour [ 54 ] perfectly natural—I faw him again at 8 o'clock, and he appeared perfectly well. Auguft 16th. He was perfectly well to-day. EXPERIMENT XVIII. Auguft 17th. 1792. At 15 minutes after 4 o'clock, ten grains of putrid blood, mixed with a drachm of clear pump water, Were injeaed into one of the femoral veins of the dog laft mentioned. During the ifijeaion, be appeared to be in much pain, and had an evacuation of urine ; the a&ion of the heart became frequent and feeble, but refpiration was not much altered. At half paft 4, the abdominal mufcles were convulfed-, the convulfions did riot laft any length of time. At 2o minutes before 5, he was feized with tremors over his whole body; they Lifted about two minutes, and then Went off. At 16 minutes be- fore 5, he had an evacuation of urine. At 15 minutes af- ter 6, I left him eating, when he appeared pretty eafy.' I fcw him again at 8 o'clock, and perceived he had had a motion fince I left him. The aftion of the heart was fre- cjnentatid feeble. While I was with him he had an eva- cuation of urine, and appeared eafy. Auguft 18th. Blood was drawn at 10 minutes after 6 o'clock this morning—its colour and fmell were natural ■—it was coagulated at 14 minutes after 6—feparation in- to ferum and craffamentum began to take place at 23 mi- nutes after 6. The coagulum and ferum were natural. The ferum'did not change the colour of the paper ftained blue. At 8 he appeared to be perfectly well. Auguft C 55 3 Auguft 19th. He was perfectly well to-day. The blood, that was drawn yefterday, was examined thiis morning, and poffeffed no unnatural fmell. EXPERIMENT XIX. Auguft 27th. 1792. At 40 minutes before 10 o'clock, a drachm of putrid blood, mixed with half a drachm of clear pump-water was injeacd into one of the femoral veins of the dog, the fubjeft of the 4th. Experiment. Du- ring the injeaion, he was very uneafy, and evacuated urine. The aaion of the heart became very frequent and feeble. He was placed on the floor, and immedi- ately after vomited. At 3 minutes before 1 o, he had an evacuation of natural feces. At 2 minutes before 1 o, he vomited again. At 1 o his breathing became ve- ry laborious, and he had a loofe and fmall evacuation of natural coloured feces. At 3 minutes after 10, he lay down. The heart beat fo feeble, that it could fcarcely be felt. At 10 minutes after 10, he rofe, vomited again, and then lay down. At 15 minutes after 10, the eyes were examined and no alteration in them Was apparent. At 21 minutes after 10, he rofe again, walked about the room, flood for fometime, and then again lay down. The aaion of the heart became more evident. At 11 o'clock, he groaned very much. At 6 minutes after 11 the aaion of the heart became more frequent and feeble. The eyes were now again examined, but prefented no unnatural appearance. At 20 minutes after 11, he rofe and walked a fewfteps, had a fparing evacuation of chocolate-coloured, liquid feces, then fell down, and appeared as if ftimulated to evacuate again; he rofe and had an evacuation of urine, and again fell down. At 18 minutes before 12, his ab- dominal [ 5<* J dominal mufcles became convulfed. At 4 minutes before 12, he vomited again. At 28 minutes after 12, he rofe, walked a few fteps, had an evacuation of very thin choco- late-coloured feces, and appeared to be very weak; after this he walked a few fteps again, and then lay down. I left him at 10 minutes before 1 o'clock, when he appear- ed eafy, though very weak and fick. When I returned, at 12 minutes before 3, I perceived, that during my ab- fence, he had had two or three evacuations of urine. The heart beat frequently and feebly. At 1 o minutes before 3, he had an evacuation of urine, and afterwards vomit- ed. At 8 minutes before three, he had an evacuation of very liquid feces, intermixed with mucus. At 5 minutes be- fore 3, he had retchings and efforts to vomit, but did not evacuate. At 16 minutes before three, he rofe, and had another evacuation of feces fimilar to the one laft men- tioned. At 1 o minutes after 4, he had an evacuation from the reaum, of mucus intermixed with blood. At 25 minutes after 4, putrid meat and putrid water were of- fered him, he drank plentifully, but did not eat. I left him at half paft 4, and faw him again at half paft 7, when I perceived he had had a very copious evacuation of urine, but had not eaten. The heart beat frequently, though not fo feebly as before. Refpiration was pretty free. He feemed eafy, and appeared much better than when I left him the laft time. Auguft 28th. When I faw him this morning at 8 o'clock, marks of an evacuation of feces and urine were evident. I perceived he had eaten nothing. Putrid wa- ter was given him and he drank of it. The heart beat frequently and feebly. He appeared very weak; and the wound [ 57 1 wound put on a bad appearance. At 2 o'clock I faw him again, when I perceived that he had had two or three evacuations of urine, but that he had not eaten. I now offered him fome frefh meat, he held it in his mouth, but did not fwallow any of it, and let it drop. Putrid water was again offered to him and he drank it. Refpiration did not appear to be much affeaed. The aaion of the heart was' frequent, and fo feeble as fcartely to be felt. In my prefence he had an evacuation of urine; I caught fome of it in an earthen veffel, dipped a piece of the blue- coloured paper in it, but no change of the colour was* evident. The wound appeared in a gangrenous flate-l He feemed very weak, and it was with difficulty that he flood. At 8 minutes before c; blood'was drawn; the coldur and fmell were natural. It icrjagu"lated at 4 minutes be-' fore15 i feparation into ferum and craffamentum was evi- dent, at 7 minutes after 5 ; the ferum and craffmehfum were perfoaiy natural; the ferum did not change the co- lour of the paper ftained blue.' The wound appeared much worfe. In every other cafe, yet mentioned, it in- variably put on a good appearancee, and healed readily. After bleeding he appeared exceedingly weak. At 35' minutes after 5, I left him very uneafy. I faw him again at a o'clock, and he appeared nearly in the fame condition as when I left him laft. Auguft 29th. This morning at 8 o'clock, I found him dead. The blood drawn yefterday, was now examined. No unnatural fmelf WaS evident. The ferum did not change the colour of the paper ftained blue. The coagu- lum was fo firm, that when thrown out of the tumbler on the floor, it did riot break. A very difagreeable and foetid odour arofe from the body. H Dijfcc- [ 58 3 DiJfeBion. The body was examined at half paft S\<\L ni3 c >l Irakis fr:'! WW& PP'-v ^ "^