The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-12-20
A Fly's Tongue.

rIyb lOnBucs
A reporter Of the Cincinnati Commtr-
c,ql, In search Of information on the In
teresting question whether the common
house-tly can communicate disease, was
obligiugly furnished an inside view Of
that little animal by Prof Mickelbor-
ough, OF the Cincinnati Normal school.
The fly was caught and the reporter
thus details the subsequent operations;
The little captive was adjudged suili-
GENTLY adequate for scientific doye'op-
mcnt, having, as the professor observed,
guilty look, although wherefore was
not demonstrated, and he was forthwith
condemned to decapitation. This ccre-
mony was performed by placing him
under small microscope, and deft.
sharp instrument quickly severed his
devoted head rom the trunk as neatly
as ever the gu;llotine of sunny France
cut short the career Of an obnoxious roy
alist. The head was then placed under
more powerful instrument, which fully
revealed lis grand proportions to tho
Impractical eye. 1t was noble head,
evidently belonging to one CT the more
cultured class OF flies, in spite Of first
impressions. II must be confessed,
however, that 1t ran considerably to eye
ball-eyes large enough in proportion to
the rest Of the structure TO satisfy the
most ardent poet, although not liquid
or dreamy, being. on the contrary. very
dull and Of Il reddish brown color The
expression, II they ever had any. was
gone, and nothing but stony, martyr
ike gaze remained. After this cxami-
nation another successful operation was
performed, and the head was split open.
revealing its curious and complicated
structure, after which the tongue Of the
insect was carefully extracted, the mo-
dus operandi being the application OF y
light pressure above the organ. causing
it TO protrude its full length, when it was
skillullS removed, care being taken not
to mutilate II. Under the microscope
the prnboscis bore u decided resem.
blance TO rough, uneven log. over
grown with dark. thick moss, at one
end of which were number of black
projections. having the appearance oi
heavy spikes driven into the log, but
which were in realitV infinitely small
hairs. II was certainly q formidable
looking object in its magnifed state.
Tho experienced eye Of the professor
detected slight vibration upon the
surface Of the log, and that particular
specimen Of tly-tonguo was pronounced
one OF those for which we sought. The
tongue was inhabited, and again the
Nv had proved q success. The opera.
ton which followed was one of extreme
caution and skillful manipulation, and
cons sted in splitting the organ length
wise. which was successfully accom-
plishad under the small microscope
with instruments Of most delicate text
ure, requiring the greatest care in thei
use. The operation resulted favorably
and sure enough the ''critter' wa
there. He had taken up his resideno,
for the time being inside the tongue
although It has been demonstrated tina
he possesses the power of roaming n
his own sweet will either inside or out
side Of bis field Of operations He wa
captured without much OF O contest,
and was imprisoned in small drop Of
water. which was placed upon glass
slide with coucave center, and sub.
'ected to the searching revelations Of
tho microscope. He appeared to take
nat 'Tally to his new element, and mani
tested surprising activity in b liquid
quarters, He was pronounced b. tho
professor to be quite handsome speci-
mon. Peoples ideas Of beauty differ very
materially, and II was only decent re
gard for the prophecies Of the occasion
TINT prevented the reporter from vent
ur.ng the opinion that he was abou
as ugly o reptile as ever was ''untimel
brought TO light" and, also, were 1t NJ
for due difference TO the dignity OF sc
entificjudgment which was decided th'
parasite is not purveyor of diseas
there would have been then and thol
one more convert to the opposing do
trino. Tho animal looked mean 81
hidcous enough to DO guilty. of an
thing, Ho was aim ost transparent, h;
!. q Hat head and the body OF a serpen
And how he did squirm, filling the e.
I blTG oUhC6 vi uto uliuubutO ofo<st'u
with his writings and convulsion
Yet, twas reiief 70 10 to.d tnar =
was harmless, for his appearance oil
NOT indicate the fact. and the conmo
houso-lIyw II not riso in the estimation
of thegeneral public when 1t is know
that hi Is capable OF harborng such
disreputable looking monster. ever
though hp wero .inoculatod" agains
every known disease. BY actual meas
urcrnant this one was found by Mr.
Mickelb trough to DO ninety-thre
thousandtb OF an inch in diameter. Til
| greatest plumber he has ever found o
o single fiyls tongue was three-enoug
in all conscicnee
The proboscis, which was also Q.
aminod. was an interesting object. II
outer part or covering is supported |
ribs OF braces placed at regular into
walls, and apparently OF great streng
In proportion to the object. The fel
ure Of compensation is an importa
one In zoology. A parasite feeds on t
fluids prepared blythe animal on viii
Il exists. In the case Of the fly
anguillulu, as itgreally Is, obtains
noVSjshment from. the fluids which p:
!. through the tongue, and does mott
Y bibe ~ food tom tbe ciycuIstu
2 fluids ~ fA9 body Of ~ ~ 81: