179^' on mortfis. I4r 



If they be, does it not follow that an earth-worm 

 has not one individual life, but two different lives-; 

 accompanied each with a distinct and separate facul- 

 ty of -sensation ? In other words, does not an earth- 

 worm consist of two animated systems of matter, 

 which, though unite.) by some bond of connection, by 

 which sensation is communicated from the one to the 

 other, are yet ixi themselves perfectly distinct ? I li- 

 mit m.y supposition to two animated systems ; because 

 from the experiments of Spallanzani, with which a- 

 lone I am acquainted, it does not appear, that when the 

 wonn is so divided, as that from the middle piece a 

 new head and a new tail spring forth, either of tlis 

 amputated extremities contain the power of reproduc- 

 tion. Perhaps the Abbe's experiments may be in- 

 accurately stated ; but, if they be not, does not m^ 

 conjecture founded on them acquire some additional 

 probability, from the undoubted lact that every earth- 

 worm is an hermaphrodite ? Admitting the truth of 

 this conjecture, is it not highly probable that the 

 two seats of sensation, analogous to the brain in man, 

 are contiguous to each other, and at some distance 

 from tiie extremities cf the v/orm ? And is it not 

 self-evident that a wound, inflicted on cither extrenii- 

 ty of a worm, must, in that case, communicate ta 

 the animal two particular sensations instead of one ? 



It is npt. Sir, for the purpose of exciting a contro- 

 versy in the Bee, that I throw out these queries, bu.' 

 merely to obtain information on a curious subject, 

 which I wifh to understand, and of which, at the same 

 lim;, I am profoundly ignorant. I never in my life 

 made an experiment on an earth- worm, v/ith a viey.' to 



