INTRODUCTION OF THE MICROSCOPE 75 



This is an exceptionally good piece of anatomization for that 

 time, and is a fair sample of the fidelity with which he worked 

 out details in the structure of small animals. Besides show- 

 ing this, these figures also serve the purpose of pointing out 

 that Swammerdam's fine anatomical work was by no means 

 confined to insects. His determinations on the structure of 

 the young frog were equally noteworthy. 



But we should have at least one illustration of his handling 

 of insect anatomy to compare more directly with that of 

 Malpighi, already given. Fig. 1 7 is a reduced sketch of the 

 anatomy of the larva of an ephemerus, showing, besides other 

 structures, the central nervous system in its natural position. 

 When compared with the drawings of Malpighi, we see there 

 is a more masterly hand at the task, and a more critical spirit 

 back of the hand. The nervous system is very well done, 

 and the greater detail in other features shows a disposition 

 to go into the subject more deeply than Malpighi. 



Besides working on the structure and life-histories of ani- 

 mals, Swammerdam showed, experimentally, the irritability 

 of nerves and the response of muscles after their removal 

 from the body. He not only illustrates this quite fully, but 

 seems to have had a pretty good appreciation of the nature 

 of the problem of the physiologist. He says : 



"It is evident from the foregoing observations that a great 

 number of things concur in the contraction of the muscles, 

 and that one should be thoroughly acquainted with that 

 wonderful machine, our body, and the elements with which 

 we are surrounded, to describe exactly one single muscle 

 and explain its action. On this occasion it would be neces- 

 sary for us to consider the atmosphere, the nature of our food, 

 the blood, the brain, marrow, and nerves, that most subtle 

 matter which instantaneously flows to the fibers, and many 

 other things, before we could expect to attain a sight of the 

 perfect and certain truth." 



