DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0142
F22 LETTER OF UR. FRANKLIN,
rience in their ordinary state, proceeds from the continual
waste of their substance by perspiration, it will appear less
incredible that some animals in a torpid state, perspiring
less because they use no exercise, should have less need
of aliment; and that others, who are covered with scales
or shells, which stop perspiration, such as land and sea-
turtles, serpents, and every species of fish, should be able
to subsist a considerable time without any nourishment
whatever. A plant, with its flowers, fades and dies im-
mediately if exposed to the air, without having its root
immersed in an humid soil, from which it may draw a
sufficient quantity of moisture to supply that which ex-
hales from its substance, and is carried off continually
by the air. Perhaps, however, if it were buried in quick-
silver, it might preserve for a considerable space of time
its vegetable life, its smell, and colour. If this be the
case, it might prove a commodious method of transport-
ing from distant countries those delicate plants which
are unable to sustain the inclemency of the weather at
sea, and which require particular care and attention.
I have seen an instance of common flies preserved in a
manner somewhat similar. They had been drowned in
Madeira w’ine, apparently, about the time when it was
bottled in Virginia to be sent to London. At the open-
ing of one of the bottles, at the house of a friend where
I then was, three drowned flies fell into the first glass that
was filled. Having- heard it remarked that drowned flies
Were capable of being revived by the rays of the sun, I
proposed making the experiment upon these: they were,
therefore, exposed to the sun upon a sieve, which had
been employed to strain them out of the wine. In less
than three hours two of them began by degrees to reco-
ver life. This commenced by some convulsive motions
in the thighs, and at length they raised themselves upon
their legs, wiped their eyes with their fore-feet, beat and
brushed
rience in their ordinary state, proceeds from the continual
waste of their substance by perspiration, it will appear less
incredible that some animals in a torpid state, perspiring
less because they use no exercise, should have less need
of aliment; and that others, who are covered with scales
or shells, which stop perspiration, such as land and sea-
turtles, serpents, and every species of fish, should be able
to subsist a considerable time without any nourishment
whatever. A plant, with its flowers, fades and dies im-
mediately if exposed to the air, without having its root
immersed in an humid soil, from which it may draw a
sufficient quantity of moisture to supply that which ex-
hales from its substance, and is carried off continually
by the air. Perhaps, however, if it were buried in quick-
silver, it might preserve for a considerable space of time
its vegetable life, its smell, and colour. If this be the
case, it might prove a commodious method of transport-
ing from distant countries those delicate plants which
are unable to sustain the inclemency of the weather at
sea, and which require particular care and attention.
I have seen an instance of common flies preserved in a
manner somewhat similar. They had been drowned in
Madeira w’ine, apparently, about the time when it was
bottled in Virginia to be sent to London. At the open-
ing of one of the bottles, at the house of a friend where
I then was, three drowned flies fell into the first glass that
was filled. Having- heard it remarked that drowned flies
Were capable of being revived by the rays of the sun, I
proposed making the experiment upon these: they were,
therefore, exposed to the sun upon a sieve, which had
been employed to strain them out of the wine. In less
than three hours two of them began by degrees to reco-
ver life. This commenced by some convulsive motions
in the thighs, and at length they raised themselves upon
their legs, wiped their eyes with their fore-feet, beat and
brushed