DELICATE OPERATIONS. 137 



dissect the intestines of bees with the same accu- 

 racy and distinctness that others do those of larger 

 animals. He was particularly dexterous in the 

 management of small tubes of glass, no thicker 

 than a bristle, drawn to a very fine point at one 

 end, but thicker at the other. These he made use 

 of when he wanted to exhibit and inflate the 

 smallest vessels discovered by the microscope, to 

 trace, distinguish, and separate their courses and 

 communications, or to inject them with very subtle 

 coloured liquids." 



We may have some idea how delicate and intri- 

 cate must have been the operations of this skilful 

 anatomist, when we learn that "he very often 

 spent whole days in cleansing and preparing the 

 body of a single caterpillar, in order to discover the 

 true construction of that insect's heart !" At 

 length he attained to an unequalled skill in this 

 department of science, and as the result of his 

 labours, completed a work which Boerhaave, with 

 natural pride, rejoices over, as the production of 

 one of his countrymen, who (he complains) " are 

 in general so liberally reproached with a dulness 

 that requires the inventions of others to sharpen 

 it ! I am, however, convinced," he adds, " that 

 this instance will suffice to convince mankind that 

 we have among us uncommon geniuses, who have 

 made the most important discoveries, and, spider- 



