Dec. 1, 1864] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



RESTORATION OF THE SILKWORM. 225 



gums, and give the tender brats the tooth-ache* Not a breath of wind, 

 not a change of temperature, must pass over these tender beings, for 

 fear the destroying angel should stretch forth his hand and ruthlessly 

 exterminate the whole. But common sense would fain inquire, — " Is the 

 worm naturally of so tender a constitution that no change must be 

 suffered to come nigh its dwelling ? If so, how did the insect contrive 

 to brave the storms, and outlive the daily changes of temperature, even 

 from day to night, when exposed upon the trees in its own native and 

 northern mountain climate ? Nay, why was such change from day to 

 night ordained, if it were to prove injurious to organic structures ?" 



I have proved, however, at Mussooree that the worms of different 

 species, even in their present debilitated state, are not so delicate as it 

 has hitherto been the fashion to suppose, and have successfully reared 

 great numbers of worms that were night and day exposed to every change 

 of temperature, to every gale that blew, and above all to the constant 

 moisture of the mists which were permitted to pass through the room, 

 saturating leaves and trays, and causing the worms themselves to sparkle 

 through the moisture deposited upon them. Yet notwithstanding this 

 rough treatment no deaths occurred, no particular diseases showed them- 

 selves, and the cocoons produced were pronounced by competent judges 

 to be good and the silk of the best quality. 



They have likewise been successfully reared in France in the open 

 air, and the cocoons are pronounced to be superior to those reared within 

 the house. 



And yet after all, seeing that the constitution of the issue has been 

 completely destroyed, what wonder if it be found unable to bear up 

 successfully against the sudden changes of temperature of a foreign cli- 

 mate ? Too great a degree of heat, — an improper system of feeding, — 

 the exclusion of fresh air from the rooms, and, above all, the long-con- 

 tinued system of breeding in and in with debilitated stock, have at 

 length reduced the worm to the condition of a leper, and have banished 

 from its skin every trace of those with which Nature had originally 

 ornamented it. Even in Europe it has been found that heat is inimical 

 to its health, for not only in Italy is the best silk produced in the 

 mountainous parts of Piedmont, but M. Guerin-Meneville, in a tour 

 made in 1858 through France and Italy, likewise declares that it is in 

 " those elevated localities where the vine and the mulberry escaped 

 disease, that the worm was found to enjoy the best health;' 



This indefatigable naturalist also notices a custom which has long 

 struck me as being most objectionable, and one which has certainly con- 

 tributed in no slight measure to destroy the strength and healthiness of 

 the worm. " Nature," observes M. Guerin-Meneville, "distinctly shows 

 that it is her wish that the sexes should remain coupled for a certain 



' Journ. Hort. Soc. of India,' vol. x. part 2, p. 182. 



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