Objections and Rejoinders 



mouth which bites with its two poisoned har- 

 poons. And these desperadoes dare to 

 brave that deadly trap! Why do they not 

 follow your judicious advice? They should 

 sting the plump belly, which Is wholly un- 

 protected. They do not; and they have 

 their reasons, as have the others. 



All, from the first to the last, show us, 

 clear as water from the rock, that the outer 

 structure of the victims operated on counts 

 for nothing in the method of operating. 

 This is determined by the inner anatomy. 

 The points wounded are not stung because 

 they are the only points penetrable by the 

 lancet; they are stung because they fulfil an 

 important condition, without which penetra- 

 bihty loses its value. This condition is none 

 other than the Immediate proximity of the 

 nerve-centres whose influence has to be sup- 

 pressed. When at close quarters with her 

 prey, whether soft or armour-clad, the hunt- 

 ress behaves as If she understood the nervous 

 system better than any of us. The thought- 

 less objection about the only penetrable 

 points is, I hope, swept aside for ever. 



I am also told: 



" It Is possible, if it comes to that, for the 

 sting to be delivered in the neighbourhood 

 of the nerve-centres; in a victim at most 

 351 



