The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-18

Family viii Have to Hustle" for a
Living.
(CopyrighD.
New York, March 1.-THE torpid state
into which certain animals go at the APP
proach of cold weather is a matter of
much physiological interest. While it
has in it many elements of ordinary
sleep. it has much that is clearly outside
of the realm of rest and regeneration.
In sleep the process of digestion, assimi-
lation and repair 20 on, with only a slight
subsistence of temperature, pulse and res
pi~ation, while muscular sensibility is
much deadened; but in kiberna-
ton, muscles respond to small
electric currents which in the
ordinary state would cause no effect, vet
both REGENERATION and waste remain in a
more or less inactive condition. Respira-
tiOn Ceases-often so completely that the
creature may be immersed in water or
poisonous gases for a long season and re-
yive The blood being thus unoxidized
stimulates the heart to the faintest action
only Perhaps the increased iritability
alone enables it to perform; for the con
troll of the brain over the body seems sus-
pended and consciousness departs.
The involuntary muscles seem to draw
their nerve force from the ganglia out
side of the brain or the spinal marrow
If the arteries be tied, the heart of a de-
capitated animal will beat five times
longer in Information than in the ordinary
state.
The temperature of mammals, sinks to
that Of the surrounding medium.
In this fact and the circulation of vein
Gus blood through the arteries they show
a tendency to resort to the condition of
the cold-blooded creatures. We are apt
to associate high temperature with loco
motion. In fact rapid oxidation of the
blood seems both an essential and a con-
sequence of Work-hence great accom-
paniug waste Hibernation, therefore,
while being in no sense condition of re
paris one of the strictest economy 1t
may be said to be rhythmical recurrence,
as natural as sleep, dependent upon
natural conditions. Pets among hiber-
majors have this tendency at the approach
of winter, though the temperature of the
room be that of summer, while on the
contrary animals that hibernate north are
active the year through further south
Even the frog has made to keep awake
all winter by proper surroundings.
1t might be thought that cold only was
the inducing cause of this sleep were it
not well known that certain creatures of
the tropics resort to a torpid state (called
astivation) TO avoid the drought and
heat of these regions. They ball them
selves in mud, and, baked dry, exhibit all
the phenomena of true Information Since
the condition in the higher animals seems
one OF a cOld-blOUded state, we might eX-
pect the faculty to be more largely de-
yeloped in simple hearted families, which
is indeed the case All cold-blooded
features go into this condition easily and
early, except hsh-Only few Of which,
like the cells, etc, are known to grow
torpid. But this exception is largely be-
cause the effects Of environment come in
again. They can keep IN a temperature
that never falls below 32'. Should they
be frozen stiff into ice they lose con
seriousness but may often be revived into
warmth.
Extreme cold, however. is as fatal to
alternating animals as to any others 50
that they usually take good care to get
beyond the frost limit as well as to con
CeaI themselves from disturbance. Be
cause of the excitability of the heart, it is
said that some hibernators may be stimu-
lated to death by sudden awakenings.
Now Oibernation ranges in degree from
this complete torpor to occasional drowsy
spells which, in the loss of consciousness.
are only a little below ordinary sleep.
Many mammals, like the porcupine.
sHuuks etc, abstain from food and activ-
lty for weeks, but cannot be said to truly
hibernate. Even the birds, that have the
most active hearts and highest tempera-
ture, fast through long Billiards. The
dusky grouse of the Rocky Mountains is
thought to spend the entire winter in the
tops OF tall trees, barely existing on scant
buds and suOw drops. That swallows
hibernate, there has been amazed abun-
oct Of oil Inv lVr4
scientists now believes it; although we
do not yet know where either
The European or American swift
spends its winters. Information, there
fore, may be possibility to all
creatures, since we find among the man.
mails the most perfect-hearted practicing
1t. There is creditable testimony that in
india men have gone into voluntary sus-
pension of all the functions-been buried
Tor weeks and resuscitated by another
who understood the process. Since the
tendency of modern biology is to prove
that all life sas come up from the orders
below, and they form a germ, and since
germs are capable of retaining life in q
dormant state for long time, it might,
therefore, be argued that all creatures, By
the tendency of reVersion to type, may be
capable of torpid condition under the
proper environment. Man in the future
~ udN DS dDl6 IuuS 70 tNetO llG MAI
thusian catastrophe by shelving himself
IN times OF scarcity, or shelving all the
family, with one or two alone re-
naming awake to arouse the Others
al the proper season. Doubtless
the return of the seasons in polar and
temperate regions is a rhythm of these
alternating and awakening circum-
stances, and lin the spring" the turning
OF the young mans fancy is but in keep
ing with the general law. Somnambulism,
trance, and all cataleptic states have
much IN them akin to the true conditions
OF Information.
alternating animals are said always to
go INTO torpidity with large surplus of
lat. 1t is averred that bears will not
hibernate unless they have this surplus.
IL is often only the females ana young
pears that sleep, the old males remaining
active. 1t is quite certain that this is the
case with the polar species. AS this adj
pose IS heavy hydro-carbon, it is sup
posed by some that the carbon as is we'll
known, usually, has tendency to produce
Slupor. Rev. Wood has suggested that a
BEARS love for sweets may be a part of
TINS economy-for sugar is large fat
producer; but since marmots, squirrels,
snakes, reptiles, etc. ali are said to pos
SesS this fat, but do not eat sweets,
hruln's taste may simply be accidental.
III Is stated usually that this fat is con-
sVMed slowly in supporting the creature
"hle dormant. While this may be the
t"sH with such as wake occasionally, or
nose IN which the tOrpor is not com