THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. .33 



The prestige of these resurrections was doomed to 

 vanish in the Laboratory of the museum of natural history 

 at Eouen. Many of my pupils joined with me in bringing 

 back science to rational vicAvs. Professor Pennetier, by 

 his memorable labours, proved that the Anguillulse do not 

 revive. M. Tinel did the same with the tardigrades, and I 

 myself as far as regards the rotifers.^ 



However, although faith in palingenesis has faded be- 

 fore exact experiment, we must admit that the Roti- 

 ferfe possess an extraordinary, and almost prodigious, vital 

 power of resistance. In mould which has been kept two 

 or three years, they can be seen lengthening and recover- 

 ing animation when they are placed in contact with a few 

 drops of water. 



Many other animals exhibit a vitality not less remark- 

 able than that of the Eotiferae. However, as they are too 

 large to impose upon us in this way, it is not averred that 

 they resuscitate, but that they can go several years without 



1 Dr. Pennetier, in a series of valuable observations, has proved the complete 

 absurdity of resurrections in general. In his special experiments upon the Au- 

 guilluke he noticed, that so far from supporting complete desiccation, they suc- 

 cumbed at a heat of 70° Centig. (158° Fahr.) — See "Mumoire sur les Eotiferes," 

 Ami des Sciences, 18.59. "Memoires sur les Tardigrades," Ami des Sciences, 1859. 

 "M6moire sur la Eevivification des Rotiferes," Soc. de Biologic, 18.59. "Me- 

 moire sur les Anguillules des Toits," Soc. de Biologie, 1859. "Eecherches sur les 

 Anguillules," Ami des Sciences, 1860. "De la Eeviviscence et des Auimaux dits 

 Eessuscitants," Acles die Museum d'llistoire Natiirelle de Rouen, 1862. 



M. Tinel, professor of physiology at the Medical School of Eouen, disproved the 

 revival of the tardigrades by showing that these animals perish at a temperature 

 below 80° Centig. (177° Fahr,), and consequently long before they reached com- 

 plete desiccation. "Mum. sur les Eotiferes et les Tardigrades," Soc. de Biologie. 

 "Eecherches sur les Tardigrades," Union Medicare, 1859. 



Lastly, we ourselves, in a long series of experiments, demonstrated that the re- 

 surrection of the rotifers does not take place at all, and that they are only resusci- 

 tated when they were not dead. Desiccation carried to 90° Centig, (194^ Fahr.) 

 infallibly kills them. — "Nouvelles E.xperiences sur les Animaux Pseudo-ressusci- 

 tants," Actes du Museum d'Hisioire Natiirelle de Bouen. Lettres dans le Progrds, 

 1859, et I'Ami des Sciences, 1859-60. Compies-rendus de I' Acad, des Sciences, 1859. 



