tsi 



an effort of expiration, remains dilated and immoveable: respiration 

 for the moment appears to be suspended. 



M. De la Hire suggested that perhaps the state of rest of the tongue 

 is that in which it exists when elongated, and in which it is kept by 

 some tendons so attached on a zig-zag form to the outside of the 

 tongue (Fig. 8, B,A^ as to act after the manner of a spring ; and 

 that its retraction into the mouth might be effected by the action of 

 a longitudinal muscle (C,C). M. Dela Hire offers a sufficient apo- 

 logy for so absurd a supposition, in acknowledging that he had 

 never an opportunity of examining the structure of the organ. 



The central tube was described by the anatomists of the French 

 Academy as being a nerve which had the power of throwing forth 

 the tongue Cmeaning the prehensile portion) which was attached to 

 it, by elongation itself, and of drawing it back again by contracting. 

 It is a sufficient reply to this explanation, that the part alluded to is 

 not a nerve ; and even granting it were so, that nervous structure is 

 no where possessed of powers of elongation and contraction. 



There is a common supposition that the tongue is extended by 

 inflation with air, and drawn back again by the supposed nerve in 

 its middle, which after having been elongated by tlie effort, returns 

 it again suddenly to its former state. But this explanation is as un- 

 tenable as the others, for no opening of communication can be dis- 

 covered between the mouth or trachea and the tongue, through 

 which air could find admission into the organ. 



The Baron Cuvier, who has contributed so much to the advance- 

 ment of natural science, supposes that the propulsion of the organ from 

 the mouth, and its subsequent retraction, are effected in part by the 

 alternate elongation and shortening of that portion which I have 

 named prehensile, and in part by the advancement and retreat of 

 the OS hyoides. The entire process, according to his explanation, is 



