Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-26
FROM THE POLYTECHNIC JOURNAL.

nary expermenters in the field of science and yet
with all his enthusiasm, he has been discreet in his
illusions We could find any ground whatever for
the charge of impety against his experiments and
counts upon the subject Of the development of his insect
Acaru Cross and he needs self or extra defence
this ponts He is in the noble pursuit of facts and truth
and his facts in connexion with the and fungi have
abundant collateral support and his acari have been
fully confirmed by high authority.
We cannot but infer that the atmosphere the EARTH
and great variety of solids perhaps all of them TEEN
with organizations, vegetable animal, either in the
germ perfect life, and that these find their develop
mens and exstences only under the circumstances de-
signed for them by the Great Creator Else how should
we explain the existence of the entozoa epizoa the cpl
phytes and the parasites Of minute animals whose only
habitaon is within the ntestnes eyes, upon certain
parts of other animals Of plants whose abiding places
are particular plants parts thereof special
substance or surface plants goatng in moisture, dark
meas and roenness and exnguished by the first breath
of pure air or ray of sunlight Where do their germs
or ova lie concealed who has traced them out and
how do they survive the ycissudes of cold and heat
Does person than another eat drink OF the
ova or young Of the great umbrcus red found
sometimes in such enormous in the human intes
tines of the tenia tapeworm, with its ample folds
and enormous length that exists only in this and
seemingly extraordinary domicile. Truly, the whole
creation miracle, and its microcosms full of
inscrutabites the mightier spheres they compose
From what peculiarly of composition organization in
an egg is it determined that the tip of certain
fibre of certain feather in the wing of bird should al
ways have just such color and texture? How we
comprehend that man, in walking for miles in the open
air. should leave his trail traceabe matter having pro-
perties peculiar himself and dstingushabe from all
other and things? Yet we read of blood hound in
England who tracked murderer two leagues, hay
ing taken the scent from shoe that left behind
Yes, every breath draw, every morse we eat every
drop sip, teens with eggs germs, swarms with
le and we would have the vel lifted from dim
vision the obuseness removed from other Senses
that might be introduced into these mcrocosms with
all their sights and sounds odors and tastes In cons
derng of these extraordinary exstences such for
instance the Acarus Crossii, must remember how
great the extremes under which find life in embryo
and developed and that the food of is anothers poison
certain kind Of insect hripes in the most pungent
ground red pepper another riots upon henbane to-
bacco; and although little salt will kill hog yet he
swallows immense quantities of arsenic with impuny.
Thus it is in the organic and inorganic worlds life and
properties display themselves only when they fall into
their appropriate spheres Of development action Mr.
Crosses great theme electricity and he is give
account of his observations and experiments on
animal and vegetable life connected with electrical
ton We shall look for the philosopher in his de-
ductions but we confess little lest he fall
certain Of modern Electro Biologists" Rel
chenbackers" with their principle of " o." We
hope msinerpret him, but the following remark from
who has had such Of observation and
experiment strikes us forcibly. We requote it:
It has long been my belief that the electric influence
the great principle by which the Almighty puts together
and sardtes and that 1t might be called metaphorcay
speaking, the right arm Of God"
not yet any doctrine theory which denti
fes the mysterious principle Of life with that Of cleo
tricity We want and require the ezpeimentvn
Thus far the imaginary currents Of haucc and others
have not been made sensible by any external tests No
secondary has been produced by the most violent
muscular action no external attraction, repuson,
exhibited DETECTION of the magnetic needle
produced by internal currents Of electricity in animals
(unless they had special electrical organs and to
knowledge internal disturbance has been produced
By proximity Of the most powerful magnets gavanic bat
teries, electrified bodies Some years ago placed
celebrated somnambue within great helix Of insulated
copper wire, and passed through this helix strong
rent from galvanic battery. No perceptibe effects
produced either by continuous current or by
rapidly broken. We have thrust our hands, arms and
legs into the helices used by Prof Page in his
experiments upon electro magnetism as moving power
and without the slightest sensation whether the current
was broken rapidly unbroken. These helices the
most powerful made One Of them raises up in its
centre and suspends without visible support bar Of
iron of two thousand pounds weight and the secondary
spark when the current is broken, is from six eight
inches in length The magnets by far the ener
getc ever produced, but have upon them
the Rsichenback fires have we ever experienced
any novel sensations functional disturbances while
handling them and working them day after day. nor
while We have been closely watching the movements of
three to hve-horse engine in their pow
crful electric and magnetic disturbances often at the rate
OF sixteen hundred per minute. The dia-magnetic as
well as the direct magnetic effects from these magnets
were conspicuous, and although the animal tissues and
huds were doubtless susceptible Of these influences yet
they al performed their respective Offices as IL without
Interference. We were applied for surgical aid
BY young lady who had broken needle with the point
deeply imbedded in the back Of her hand We placed
her hand in sling and in with superior steel
magnet in such position as to prevent the point from
working up the This she almost constantly
for week. but there was change wrought in any
function Of the parts in contact with the magnet and in
the absence Of real practical tangible demonstrabe
reciprocal unsophstcated Of the living functions Of
electricity and magnetism challenge all expermenters
and theorists to the external test.
trite saying that cit is poor rule that will not
work both ways" applies here. "Acton and reaction
are equal and the magnet electric currents can
go strangely affect and assimlate with the functions Of
life without reciprocity Of action then philosophy has
gained principle, and magnetism new property
sThcss have been reported the great length Of six hun