The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-08
Nature First Great Inventor
and Others Simply Followed
Fnst-class Batteries in Existence Millions Of Years Aga
~ Fish Was the First Balloon, and Mosquito
~ Has Hypodermic Syringe

prehistoric genius. Yet the axis of
the shell Of the mollusk called 'terebra"
is perfect screw. Again, IL one would
find the original of the spiral staircase.
1t is discoverable in the "scaiaria" shell
of Indo-Pacific waters. Another uni
valve mollusk of the South Pacific makes
most admirable comb. and Is used for
that purpose by some Of the natives in
that part of the world. The first rock
drill was a bivalve called the ''pholas,"
common on the northwest coast OF
America, which bores into the rocks
along shore, thus making hole in
which it lives safe from disturbance by
the surf that continually dashes upon it.
The 'chambered Nautilus" celebrated
in the poem of DR.. Oliver Wendell
Holmes, seems to have been the origin
ator Of the pneumatic tube. We are
using such tubes today in dry goods
shops and even for carrying mails in
cities, but the nautilus employed the
idea in its business millions OF years
before the first man was born-the tube
connecting the chambers OF its shell
serving to control the air pressure with
in, and thus enabling the animal to rise
or descend in the sea.
Another mollusk, not distantly related
to the nautilus, was seemingly the in
ventor Of the cupping instrument which
is utilized in modern surgical practice.
This is the octopus. the under side OF
whose arms is covered with sucking
discs. When the arms seize a mans leg,
say, the air is exhausted from the cup
like disc, and thus the creatures ten
tacles can be torn away only with the
greatest difficulty. The tentacles of the
giant squid of the deep seas-most for
midable of all marine monsters attain
ing a length Of 100 feet. and with eyes
foot in diameter-are similarly
equipped.
Mosquito Has Syringe.
Nature certainly made the first hypo-
dermic syringe. The mosquito carries II.
and il is undeniably an admirably con-
structed and most effective instrument.
The ball-and-socket joint must have
been first suggested by the shoulder and
hip joints of human beings and other
animals, which illustrate the idea per-
fectly.
The first pump was a heart. Some
of the pumps now in use are modelled
very closely after the human heart, with
a similar arrangement OF valves. They
are, however. an inferior imitation. be-
ing less efficient and far less enduring.
The amount of work done by a man 8
HfdIl III d llltlilIf, hcpl SOlHEs DIS IL IL,
night and day without cessation. is moth
ing short of astonishing.
Our lungs are an apparatus for sepa-
rating oxygen from air. We have not
yet succeeded in initiating it. although,
for certain industrial purposes, a ma
chine that will do the same work has
long been sought.
The first paper was made by hornets
and they are still engaged in the busi-
ness. The first glass was manufactured
by volcanoes. In fact, glass is a very
common product of volcanoes. and in
some places immense quantities of this
natural glass are found.
The first plating was done by the pearl
oyster. By that means is formed .
pearl, the material of which is put on
in a series of layers.
Man did not invent the trigger II
was a device original apparently with
the trigger fish, the first spike of
whose back fin is locked by this means.
By pressing a finger on a certain point
in the middle of the back of the fish,
the spikes can be made to drop, I'M
locking the mechanism. A small bone
fits into the base of the spike. locking
it in position, but a touch dislodges it,
and the trigger is sprung
The Original Lantern,
The first lantern was carried by the
insect known as the lantern fly" whose
huge hollow head is Illuminated at night
by a phosphorescent candle"
The gasfitter's pipcers are modelled al
most exactly after the claw of a lobster.
only the lower part moving on a hinge,
and with teeth to make the grip secure
Some time ago engineers found that
cylindrical steel columns were much
stronger If they were made hollow. On
the same principle the engine-shafts of
steamers are hollow. But this is a very