Transcribed from the 1824 Office of W. Smith edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org [Picture: Pamphlet cover] A LETTER ON SUSPENDED ANIMATION, CONTAINING EXPERIMENTS _Shewing that it may be safely employed during_ OPERATIONS ON ANIMALS, With the View of ascertaining ITS PROBABLE UTILITY IN SURGICAL OPERATIONS ON THE Human Subject, _Addressed to_ T. A. KNIGHT, ESQ. OF DOWNTON CASTLE, Herefordshire, ONE OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY. * * * * * BY DR. H. HICKMAN, OF SHIFFNAL; Member of the Royal Medical Societies of Edinburgh, and of the Royal College of Surgeons, London. * * * * * IRONBRIDGE: Printed at the Office of W. Smith. 1824. _TO THE PUBLIC_. AT the particular request of gentlemen of the first rate talent, and who rank high in the scientific world, it is, that the author of the following letter is induced to lay it before the public generally, but more particularly his medical brethren; in the hope that some one or other, may be more fortunate in reducing the object of it beyond a possibility of doubt. It may be said, and with truth, that publications are too frequently the vehicles of self-adulation, and as such, suffer greatly from the lash of severe criticism; but the author begs to assure his readers, that his views are totally different, merely considering it a duty incumbent on him, (as a medical practitioner, and servant to the public), to make known any thing which has not been tried, and which ultimately may add something towards the relief of human suffering, arising from acute disease. The only method of obtaining this end, is, in the author’s opinion, candid discussion, and liberality of sentiment, which, too commonly is a deficient ingredient in the welfare of so important a profession, productive of serious consequences, not only to the parties themselves, but to the patient whose life is entrusted to their care. The duty and object, however, of the Physician and Surgeon, is generally considered to be the relief of a fellow-creature, by applying certain remedies to the cure of internal affections, or cutting some portion of the body, whereby parts are severed from each other altogether, or relieving cavities of the aggravating cause of disease. There is not an individual, he believes, who does not shudder at the idea