1 230
2 HlSTOn* OF THU S.IKIIS*
3 assimilation 'had apparently proceeded in the astta!
4 manner, but this of course he likewise denied, and
5 finally asserted, that during the whole period he
6 had been in a most delightful trance. It is well
7 known, that the Natives of Hindosfan, by constatit
8 practice, will bring themselves to exist on almost
9 no food for several days, and it is equally true, that
10 by long training, they are able to retain the air h>.
11 the lungs for some minutes, but how the two func¬
12 tions of digestion and respiration could be arrested
13 for such a length of time, appears unaccountable.
14 The concealment of the fukeer during the perform¬
15 ance of his feat, so tar from rendering it more
16 wonderful, serves to hide the means he employed
17 for accomplishing it; and until he can be persuaded
18 to undergo the confinement in a place where he
19 can be observed, it is needless to form any conjec¬
20 tures regarding them.* It is well known to phy¬
21 siologists, that the heart beats, and the function of
22 the lungs is performed, even after an animal’s head
23 has been cut off; but to suppose for an instant,
24 that the functions of the body can be performed
25 for any length of time without a fresh supply of
26 arterial blood, which necessarily implies the action
27 of respiration, (unless i n the case of the child in
28 utero) is absurd; and though in cases of asphyxia
29 from drowning and hanging, or the inhalation of
30 hurtful gases, both circulation and respiration cease
31 48 An attempt was made by the Hon. W* Osborne, to induct the man (to
32 shut himself up in a box, giving him charge of the key ; he at first agreed
33 hi the proposal, hut afterwards refused*