286 Dr. Heinekeu on the casting off and 



5. 



The same. 



6. 

 Failed to cast them, but seemed to make a muscular effort towards it. 

 The extreme joints were here divided. 



7. 

 The same. — Seemed for the moment as if galvanised. 



Very young. — Cast them at the suture. 



9. 

 Extreme joint of one leg only divided-^not thrown off. 



In no instance could I take off a joint at the articulation ; the limb 

 was invariably cast. Cutting into the articulation, or through a joint, 

 evidently gave pain, but voluntary dismemberment at the suture never 

 appeared to do so ; the difference is very marked : from the amputated 

 surface fluid flows abundantly, from the suture little or none. All these 

 Crabs died within eight-and-forty hours, although they had food and sea- 

 water. None of those which retained the limb during the act of ampu- 

 tation parted with it afterwards. 



These facts (I thought it useless to multiply them) fully bear out Dr. 

 M'Culloch's assertion, as far as detention goes ; but when instantaneous 

 amputation was had recourse to, four availed themselves of the suture, 

 three did not. It therefore occurred to me, that as a limb with either 

 the second or extreme joint mutilated could be retained, the joint or 

 joints could also be reproduced ; and that in a state of nature nine in 

 ten would perhaps part with the whole limb, because in nine cases 

 out of ten the accidents to which the extreme joints were liable im- 

 plied detention, not because the sole reproductive power resided 

 in the suture. From the difficulty of readily procuring, and the 

 inability of keeping alive. Crabs, I substituted Spiders. I do not recol- 

 lect whether Dr. M'Culloch mentions that they possess a similar appa- 



