DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0146
1'2(5 ANIMALS FOUND. IN SOLID SUBSTANCES,
had lived during the lapse of time in total privation of
food.
The academy engaged this philosopher to repeat his
experiment. After having withdrawn the dead toad, he
enclosed the two living ones again, and deposited his
trunk in the hands of the secretary of the academy., in
order that that illustrious body might open it whenever
it should think proper: but he was too much occupied
with the subject to confine himself to this single experi-
ment; he continued, therefore, the three following :
1. On the 15th of the next April, he enclosed, with
minute accuracy, two living toads in a nest of plaster,
covered with glasses, through which he could see the
animals, and examine them every day. On the 9th o
the subsequent month he carried this apparatus to the
academy, and showed them one of the toads alive; but
the other had died on the preceding evening.
o. On the same day, the 15th of the preceding April,
lie had enclosed two other living toads in another nest
of plaster, but which was still better secured, with a
funnel of glass. These animals were placed on a little
sand ; and by means of the funnel, at periods of eight
days, he let fall three drops of water on their backs, be-
ing afterward careful to close the opening of the funnel
with mortar.
3. He further enclosed another living toad in a jug,
which he surrounded with sand, so as to deprive it of all
communication with exterior air : this anima], which he
presented to the academy at the same time with the others
continued in health, and even croaked whenever her jug
wras shaken.
It is unfortunate that this naturalist was prevented by
death from pursuing these experiments a sufficient length
of time. His first, however, has established that two
toads lived in health, during more than three years, in
a state
had lived during the lapse of time in total privation of
food.
The academy engaged this philosopher to repeat his
experiment. After having withdrawn the dead toad, he
enclosed the two living ones again, and deposited his
trunk in the hands of the secretary of the academy., in
order that that illustrious body might open it whenever
it should think proper: but he was too much occupied
with the subject to confine himself to this single experi-
ment; he continued, therefore, the three following :
1. On the 15th of the next April, he enclosed, with
minute accuracy, two living toads in a nest of plaster,
covered with glasses, through which he could see the
animals, and examine them every day. On the 9th o
the subsequent month he carried this apparatus to the
academy, and showed them one of the toads alive; but
the other had died on the preceding evening.
o. On the same day, the 15th of the preceding April,
lie had enclosed two other living toads in another nest
of plaster, but which was still better secured, with a
funnel of glass. These animals were placed on a little
sand ; and by means of the funnel, at periods of eight
days, he let fall three drops of water on their backs, be-
ing afterward careful to close the opening of the funnel
with mortar.
3. He further enclosed another living toad in a jug,
which he surrounded with sand, so as to deprive it of all
communication with exterior air : this anima], which he
presented to the academy at the same time with the others
continued in health, and even croaked whenever her jug
wras shaken.
It is unfortunate that this naturalist was prevented by
death from pursuing these experiments a sufficient length
of time. His first, however, has established that two
toads lived in health, during more than three years, in
a state