Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-12-06
FROGS VITALITY.
FOUND ALIVE UNDER THE MOST As
ToNlShING CIRCUMSTANCES.
Snail In the British Museum-The Mud
fish Of West Africa-A Toad in the
waIi-Dr. Buckland's e.
perImentA


A recent communication from America,
has rsopenei the old and yexed question OF
the vitality OF the frog We learn that
huge pecs of ice left at a residence In Louis
vile Was split open, and in the center was
large frog. The animal was q black one. OF
the species known as the Michigan frog, and
weighed two pounds or over. 1t is further
stated that the ice had been in store Tor
over four years. and therefore the frog had
been a prisoner all that time in his cold
quarters. After its release it was quite
lively, and was maintained for some time
Ia an engine house near. This case Is very
similar TO one that occurred more than two
years ago in Connecticut, where a frog had
been imprisoned over seven months, and
when found was alive and we'll
Notwithstanding all that has been written
upon the subject. the possibility Of frogs
existing for any length Of time under these
OK similar conditions is still debated. 1t l.
well known, however, that not only frogs
but other reptiles and insects, can exist in
torpid state for months and even years.
The snail which woke up in the British mu-
scum. after sleep Of some years, is case
in point. A shell which had been picked up
in tho Egyptian desert March p. 1876. was
cumned on to O piece Of cardboard and sent
TO the British museum. But, curiously
enough the she'll unexpectedly contained a
snail, which ha retired TO the Utmost re-
cesses of the whorls, and was consequently
unseen. For nearly four years after this
time the snail remained IN u state OF stupor,
but on March 4. 1859, showed signs OF life.
1t WAS placed in n tspid bath, and immsdi-
ately on touching the welcome moisture 1t
showed increased signs OF animation, and
soon crawled to this top OF tAs basin
The mud fish Of west Africa, known as the
lepiiosiren, affords another instance OF
long continued existence in q state OK tcrpor.
Thi. fish lives in the shadows OK the Gam
bia river, which. in the tropical season. Is
quite dried up By marvellous instructive
power it knows when ths dry season Is ap-
preaching. and digs deep in tho soft clay at
tho bottom of the pools. and there lies IN .
torpid stats Tor months together, although
the surrounding mIi be hardened into
cake The natives dig those fish up while
in this state, and consider them a great deli
cacy for the table The mud fish does not
live without breathing. which Is provided
for by his leaving small ori;ce or pipe
open from his cell through the hard mui
up to the upper air.
Experiments made in the past have gen
orally demonstrated what IS really tina COM
for any protractsi period without air. Yet
there can not be the least doubt O. frogs
having been found alive under the most as
touishing circumstances In the centre OF
rocks generally sandstone, and in the heart
OF trees, they have frequently been discov-
cred. Ambrose Pare, chief surgeon TO
Henry Ill of Francs, relates fact OF
Shich he WAS an eyewitness. At his seat
near the village Of Meudon, he was over
5ookinR a Quarryman whom he had en-
loved 10 break some hard and large stones
N the middle OF one they discovered .
huge toad full OF life. although there was
aperture by which it could get through
IN May 81, 1898, mason named George
wilson, who was engaged in building
one wall. came across a toad, which, out
sheer wantonuess, be immured In the
ali. Sixteen years afterward. In lsV9. Il
rs found still alive.
\ AZ Windsor. in 1879, live frog was dug
from a depth Of nine feet below the sur
ca At Castieton, in l7i9, many frogs
are found from five to six feet below the
rface, apparently dead, but when exposed
the air they shovel signs OF animation
d became active and healthy. In lay
ne lsborers in digging q well twenty-five
thirty feet in depth, threw out what ap-
red to be stones covered with earth
sse, however. proved TO be frogs, and
- 50 numerous that many Of them wsre
through with the spades Being exposed
he air they soon revived. but could not