OEDEE OF OETACEA. 



55 



hollow surfaces, having the angle and points very acute ; the 

 bottom of this tube is joined, by means of a screw, to a narrower 

 screw containing a match. This projectile can be fired with the 

 charge of a heavy gun, which, when well shouldered, carries as 

 far as fifteen, twenty, and even thirty fathoms. When the gun 

 has been fired, the bomb which forms the projectile penetrates into 

 the fleshy parts of the animal with the matck, which was lighted 

 by the explosion that took place when the gun went off A few 

 seconds later a dull hollow sound is heard — it is the bomb bursting 



I 'I 



Fig. 15. — Devisiue's Balle 

 Foudfuyante. 



Tig. LU. — American HaqKjon B.JI. 



inside the animal. The Whale makes a violent somersault, and if 

 the explosion has taken place in the lung, it may die almost 

 instantaneously. The employment of the bomb-lance is combined 

 equally with that of the harpoon. When a Whale has been seized 

 and made fast by the harpoon thrown by the hand, they replace 

 the lance for killing the animal by the explosible projectile. 



Dr. Thiercelin rendered the bomb-lance still more murderous, 

 by adding to it a very powerful poison — strychnine mixed with 



curare. 



After numerous experiments Dr. Thiercelin came to the conclu- 



