Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-01-05
The Vitality of Frogs.

How long it is possible for frogs TO live
without air and food has been a matter of
experiment many times; but in the face OF
we'll established instances like those quoted
it is difficult TO conduct experiments that
will be considered as being of conclusive
character. That these creatures should be
able TO live not for centuries only, but for
ages, appears contradictory to all reason
and common sense. In some cases frogs
have been found in cretaceous rocks. The
oldest fossil toads and frogs occur in tertiary
rocks. If, therefore, those found in creta-
ceous rocks had been there from their forma-
tion it would be equivalent to saying that
the 1.-Two frog could be ages and ages older
than its fossil relative. To most people
such declaration would be the height Of
absurdty. If thoroughly inquired into it
would probably be discovered that in each
case there was fissure in the rocks or trees
in which frogs have been found large enough
for the admission of water and the embryo
frog which has developed there. 1t has
been assumed by some that the frog natur-
ally contains an acid which by chemical &C
tion on the stone provides that the space at
the frogs disposal shall be as large as its
body. A second hypothesis is that not the
egg, but the primary frog, scarcely larger
than the egg itself, falls into the rock or tree
and continues 10 grow, deriving air aud food
in the form of small insects from the water
that penetrates to lis abode. Certain it is
that frogs, when artifcially secured in air-tight
and light vessels, speedily die. Experiments
made by members Of the French Academy CEN
tury ago proved this. Milne Edwards early in
the present century inclosed frogs in vessels i'm
pervious to air, and the creatures speedily per-
lShed. Three frogs were once incloscd IN close
bcX Tor eighteen months, at the end of which time
one was dead and the remainder in dying con-
dltlon. DIR. Mccartney buried q toad in a vessel
covered with slate about foot deep in the
ground. AT the end of fortnight it seemed well
and as plump as before. When, however. he in
closed the same toad in an air-tight vessel and
buried it it soon died. and at tho end of a week
was much decayed. DR.. Buckland made some e1-
pcriments which are claimed as conclusive. lie
uIaced twelve toads separately in twelve holes
cut in blocks of hard finty sandstone. They were
firmly sealed in. The imprisoned animals were
! buried three feet deep on November 26, 1928
, At the same time four toads were deposited il
holes cut in the heart of an apple tree and the
opening securely plugged. Four others were also
pIaced in plaster of Paris, covered with luting
On December TO- 1926 all the buried toads were
examined All in the hard stone ana in the ttet
and two in the plaster of Paris were dead In;
remainder were dying, but some placed IN soitei
| stone were in tolerab)y good health and som'
were actually fatter than when placed IN ths
holes. From this it would appear that IN posi-
I tions where water can penetrate frogs may Nv
and even thrive, although buried at a consid1ra
!: h!e depth, entirely away from the light and an!
! visible means of subsistence.