220 
THE OCEAN WORLD. 
seize the animal. Swimming towards it, lie seized it ; the creature stU'' 
rounded the person of its assailant with its numerous thread-lik® 
filaments, which were nearly a yard in length ; the young man, over' 
whelmed hy a feeling of burning pain, cried out for assistance. B-® 
had scarcely strength to reach the vessel and get aboard agai: 
the pain and inflammation were so violent that brain fever 
itself, and great fears were entertained for his life.’’ 
i, before 
declare^ 
The organization is much more complicated than early observe 
were disposed to think it. During many ages naturalists were inclin** 
to imagine, with Reaumur, that the Medusae were mere masses 
il 
organized jelly, of gelatinized water. But when Co infant Dum 1 -' 1 
tried the experiment of injecting milk into their cavities, and saw ^ 
liquid penetrating into true vessels, he began to comprehend l' 1,1 
