Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-07-04
THE BATRACHIA.
Points About the Clammy Musi-
clans Of tho Marshes.
They Have Played nm Important Part n
the Developments OF Physiological
science-Their Many PscuIlari-
tios- Various spscies.

II Is true that the frog is common
and rather despised animal At a
casual acquaintance there is nothing
attractive about him, either in appear
ance or behavior.
But while the frog at first acquaint-
ance seems In nowise a noteworthy
animal, 1t is still true that no living
creature of the fields aud streams Is
in as many ways so interesting. Il is
a classic animal In the field Of expert
mental physiology. 1t was in the web
of the frogs foot that that fact OF
fundamental interest in the medical
treatment OF disease-the circulation
OF the blood was first definitely OBJ
served. And IL was the accidental OBJ
servation OF Calvin, made in 1890,
that pair of frogs legs, suspended
on a copper hook and in contact with
plate OF iron below, were
thrown into violent contractions, that
led TO the discovery of Galvanic (now
chemicaD electricity. Endless exper-
iments have been made upon the tis-
sues and organs Of the frog. all throw
ing light upon the physiological action
OF the corresponding parts in the hu-
man body. For example, the muscles
OF frogs leg may be so dissected as
TO expose the nerve connected with
them; If the nerve be then stimulated
by a current OF electricity or even by
pinching, the muscles will contract.
In this way much has been learned
about the physiology OF these tissues.
The reason why the frog is especially
available for thb purposes OF physio-
logical experiments is that its tissues
are exceedingly tenacious OF life
Under suitable conditions the muscle
and nerve preparations just referred
10 will respond TO stimulation several
hours after the life OF the animal has
been taken. The remarkable power
OF retaining vitality is still better seen
in the action Of the heart, since this
organ will go on beating for two days
after life has ceased in the animal.
This same tenacity OF life is true Of
some other reptilian and other Row
animals. as birds and mammals.
The frog, then. having so we'll estab-
lished claim on our interest, is de-
serving OF some notice in respect TO
its specific characters as an animal.
The place which it occupies in the
scale Of animal life is intermediate be-
tween that OF the fishes and the rep
tiles This is indicated very clearly in
the history Of its individual devel-
opment IL is we'll known that in
what may be called the period OF
youth in the frog the form of the body
and the manner Of life are quite differ
ent from the same in the full-grown
animal Now in the early part of this
tadpole period the creature has all of
the essential characteristics Of a fish.
Its tody is elongated and terminates in
"a broad fiat tail. There are no legs and
II breathes by means OF gills. At this
time. too. il lives on plant food, crop
ping the leaves Of water plants by
means OF horny plates with which
IT'S jaws are provided. But when
the tadpole stage Is passed and
the frog nature fully acquired,
the animal then possesses all the
distinctive characteristics OF reptile.
IL has two pairs OF limbs, a scaleless
skin, and breathes by means OF lungs.
Of these changes the most striking Is
that from water-breather (air dis
solved In water) to an air-breather.
IL Is for this reason that the frog, to-
gether with other animals possessing
the same popularity. is placed In the
geological class. Amphibia, the word
meaning double-life. Some natural
lists, however, prefer the name Ba-
trs'chia, the original meaning OF this
word being frog.
The length Of time required for the
development OF the frog appears to
depend closely upon temperature and
other external conditions. The writer
placed a tadpolo In an aquarium In
the fall and no growth whatever ap-
peared 70 take place until the follow
ing spring But when growth was
once renewed il proceeded with great
fapidlty Within a period OF ten days
both pairs Of legs budded out and de-
veloped 10 nearly perfect form The
hind legs appeared FIRST and attained
q considerable length before the fore
leg& showed themselves. The tail
persisted for some time after the de-
felopment Of the legs but its disap-
pearance-by process OF absorption
dnnlly took place with great rapid
iis, occupying only two or three days
The gills appear 70 wither away at
about iAo time OF the disappearance OF
The tail AZ any rate a. this time the
animal Il drst seon a come 10 The
bpffacn fof air almited period |
u appears % N ~ both Of