Doctor Jaquet was enthusiastic on the subject of hibernation, pointing with pride to the achievements in this direction of snakes and many animals, which were known to live to great ages. He declared his conviction that in suspended animation could be found an excellent cure for many diseases, notably troubles of the digestive tract; that during the period of suspension Nature, freed from the necessity of performing her ordinary routine functions, would be given an opportunity of making her own cure. In a word, suspended animation was, according to Dr. Jaquet, the great and true panacea for most of the evils with which mortality was afflicted.
“You mean,” questioned Mr. Kearns, after Dr. Jaquet had launched out into his favorite discussion as a sequel to the resurrection of the rabbit, “if a man has trouble with his liver, or a pain in his stomach, instead of giving him a pill, or other dose, you would suspend him?”
“That which you say there has reason!” replied the Doctor in his peculiar phraseology.
But Mr. Kearns’ manner indicated his skepticism and the Doctor seemed quite piqued.
“And how do you bring about this condition of suspended animation?” asked Mr. Kearns.
“I put them to sleep. I can make sleep any person—all the world!” declared the little Doctor with conviction.
Mr. Kearns smiled.
“Ah! You doubt it?” asked the Doctor.
“Could you put me to sleep, for instance?” inquired Mr. Kearns, parrying the question.
“With facility!” replied Dr. Jaquet.