The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-12-21
A FIysS Tongue.

AAJ % NVNSuOo
A reporter Of the Cincinnati CONNER.
cEai, in search OF information on the In
terestiDg question whether the common
house-hy can communicate disease, was
obligingly furn shed an inside view of
that little animal by Prof. Miokelbor-
Ougb, or the Cincinnati Normal school.
The fly was caught and the reporter
thus details the subsequent operations:
the little captive was adjudged suffi-
ciently adequate for scientific deve op-
ment having, as the professor observed,
a guilty look. although wherefore was
condemned to deoapitation. This cere-
mony was performed by placing him |
under :. slnaii microscope, and q deft.
sharp instrument quickly severed his |
devoted head rom tho trunk as neatly |
as ever the gu;llotine Of sunny France |
GU short the career Of an obnoxious row.
a ist. The head was then placed under |
more powerful instrument, which fully |
reVea ed its grand proportions to the |
unpracticed eve. It was noble head,
evidently belonging to one OF tho more
Gu tured class OF flies, in spite OF first
impressions. It must be con fessed,
however, that it ran considerably to eve
oall-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 reddish brown color. The
expression. If they ever had any, was
gone, and nothing but q stony, martyr
like gaze remained. After this exami-
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
light pressure above the organ, causing
it 10 protrude its full length, when it was
sKlll!ull> removed, care being taken not
TO mutilate 1t. Under the 10 croscope
the proboscis bore q decided resem-
blance TO a r'ugh, uneven log. over
grown with dark, thick moss, at one
end II which were o number of black
projections. having the appearance OF
heavy spikes driven into the log, but
which were in realit5 infinitely small
hairs. 1t was certainly formidable
looking object in it's magnited state.
The experienced eye of the professor
detected a slight vibration upon the
surface of the log, and that particular
specimen of tly-tongue was pronounced
one OF those for which we sought. The
tongue was inhabited, and again the
ilV.had proved o success. The opera.
caution and skillful manipulation. and
cons sted in splitting the organ length
wise. which was successfully accom-
plished under the small microscope,
with instruments of most delicate text
ure, requiring the greatest care in their
use. The operation resulted favorabl!,
and sure enough tho ''critter" was
there! He had taken up his residence
for the time being inside the tongue.
although it has been demonstrated that
he possesses the power of roaming at
his own sweet will either inside or out.
side of his field of operations. He was
captured wthout much of c0nte st,
and was imprisoned in a small drop of
water, which was placed upon glass
slide with q concave center, and sub.
iected to the searching revelations OF
tho microscope. He appeared to take
nat tlrally to his new element, and mani
tested q surprising activity In liquid
quarters He was pronounced b. the
professor to DO quite handsome spec-
mon. Peoples ideas of beauty differ very
material :, and it was only decent re-
gard for the proprieties of the occasion
That prevented the reporter from vent
uring the opinion that he was about
as ugly reptile as ever was ''untimely
brought to light" and, also, were 1t not
for due difference to the dignity Of SOL
entifio iud gment which was decided that
parasite is not q purveyor of disease,
t?ere would have been then and there
one more convert TO the opposing doc
trine. The animal looked mean and
hideous enough TO be guilty Of any
thing. He was almost transparent. had
q flat head and the body OF d serpent.
And how ho did squirn1, filing the en-
tire space of his miniature aquarium
with his writings and convulsions
Yet, Il was relief 70 DO told CnaU ITO
was harmless, for his appearance did
NOT indicate tho fact, and the common
house-Gy W Il not risO in the estimation
Of the general public when it is known
that he is capable of harborinx such O
disreputable- looking monster, even
though he were 'fnoculated" against
every known disease. BY actual meas.
urement this one was found by Mr..
Mlckelborough to be ninety-three
thousafith Of an inch In diameter. The
greatest number he has ever found on
q single .Ay's tongue was Ehree--enoueh
In all conscience! ...
The proboscis, which was also ex-
0mined, was an interesting object. The
outer part or covering is supported by
ribs or braces placed at regular inter
walls, and apparently of great strength
Ia proportion TO the object. The feat
ure OF coramensaSion Is an important
one 10 zoology. A parasite Sesds on the
1uidg prepared by the animal ON which
IL exists, In the case Of the Ay the
anGuiIlulus as it really Is. obtains itt
nofriahpneut from the fluids which past
through the tongue, and does not Inn
hibA ifs food from the circulating
Studs Ia the body Of the ffy. ThaSl
cce8&nSes have no backbone, and Thhr
location % tho usual Ves Ytai yulaS MOVE