Polypes Jenfible of Pain. 95 



of Polypes would certainly have come to no- 

 thing, in the Hands of the Jfame People, 

 had they been cut to Pieces. 



What Kind or Degree of Pain this Crea* 

 ture feels upon being divided, it is impofiible 

 to conceive or know : but we commonly find 

 that the Parts contract themfelves immediate- 

 ly after the Operation; and a Sort of Tremor 

 or quivering Motion may frequently be ob* 

 ferved in them by the Microfcope. Befides, 

 as the Senfe of Feeling is fo exquifitely quick 

 in the Arms, we cannot well fuppofe the 

 Body to be without its Share. And yet, its 

 eating fo foon upon it, would almoft induce 

 one to imagine, either that the Pain is not 

 very great, or that it is over inftantly, or at 

 ieaft that the Uneafinefs of Hunger is more 

 grievous to this Infedl than that of being 

 cut afunder : in the fame Manner as Dogs, 

 Cats, and fome other voracious Animals, if 

 hungry, will eat with Greedinefs, though 

 they are fo hurt or wounded, that we have 

 good Reafon to believe they mujft fufFer acute 

 Pain. 



The Quivering or trembling Motion above 

 mentioned, is more particularly to be dif- 

 cerned, when only a little Bit of the Tail- 

 End is cut oif : which feems to imply fome 

 extraordinary Sen Ability in that Partj and 

 reminds me of what I have often been 

 affured^ by People v/ho faid they had fre- 

 quently 



