Thoughts on the source of life; also recent speculations on electricity, and other subjects, by an octogenarian [W. Boggett].London, 1881 - 42 pages |
Common terms and phrases
acari acid afterwards clearly established atmosphere attendant circumstances awakening and seizing basin body bulb chlorine commencement composition conceived contained current of electricity dissolved dura mater earth elec electric action electric communication electric current fact filled fluid functions funnel galvanic gases grey matter heart hydrogen impart inch incipient insects instincts inverted glass jar Kubla Khan lens living creature locks of wool Magneto Electricity matter means mind motive power muscles nearly negative pole nerves Noad numerous experiments observed opinion ovum owing oxygen oxygen and hydrogen passed perfect acarus platinum wire connected porous pot portion positive pole potassa present protrusion was greatest quartz reason retains retort rubbing saucer seed shelf silicate silk thread Sir John Lubbock skin friction sleep was imperfect stamen sun's heat supply of blood tions tricity tumbler vegetable or animal vessels views vitality voltaic water is composed white matter WILLIAM BOGGETT wonderful zinc
Popular passages
Page 21 - ... although they had been, for some time after their birth, apparently averse to motion. In the course of a few weeks, about a hundred of them made their appearance on the stone. At first each of them fixed itself for a considerable time in one spot, appearing to feed by suction, but when a ray of light from the sun was directed upon it, it seemed disturbed, and removed itself to the shaded part of the stone. Out of about a hundred insects, not above five or six were born on the south side of the...
Page 22 - I was unable to form one. The most simple solution of the problem, which occurred to me, was, that they arose from ova deposited by insects floating in the atmosphere, and that they might possibly be hatched by the electric action. I next imagined, as others have done, that they might have originated from the water, and consequently made a close examination of several hundred vessels filled with the same water as that which held in solution the silicate of potassa. In none of these vessels could...
Page 21 - I have never ventured an opinion as to the cause of their birth ; and for a very good reason — I was unable to form one. The most simple solution of the problem which occurred to me was, that they arose from ova deposited by insects floating in the atmosphere, and that they might possibly be hatched by the electric action. I next imagined, as others have done, that they might have originated...
Page 23 - The platina wire passes under the cover of the pan. 5, a platina wire connected with the negative pole of the same battery, with the other end dipping into the basin, an inch or two below the fluid ; and, as well as the other, twisted round a piece of quartz. By this arrangement it is evident that the electric fluid enters the porous pan by the wire 4, percolates the pan, and passes out by the wire 5.
Page 34 - Darwin himself. The general result is that to insects, and especially to bees, we owe the beauty of our gardens, the sweetness of our fields. To their beneficent, though unconscious action, flowers owe their scent and colour, their honey — nay, in many cases, even their form.
Page 18 - ... if the electrical power which holds the elements of a grain of water in combination, or which makes a grain of oxygen and hydrogen in the right proportions unite into water when they are made to combine, could be thrown into the condition of a current, it would exactly equal the current required for the separation of that grain of water into its elements again.
Page 23 - At the suggestion of Mr. Crosse, that indefatigable .electrician Mr. Weekes, of Sandwich, in Kent, repeated some of these experiments, by passing currents of Electricity through vessels filled with solutions of silicate of potash under glass receivers inverted over mercury, the greatest possible care being taken to shut out extraneous matter ; and in some cases previously filling the receivers with oxygen gas.
Page 20 - Wedgewood ware, within which rested a quart basin on a circular piece of mahogany placed within the funnel. When this basin was filled with a fluid, a strip of flannel wetted with the same, was suspended over the edge of the basin and inside the funnel, which acting as a syphon, conveyed the fluid out of the basin, through the funnel, in successive drops.
Page 23 - ... 4, a platina wire connected with the positive pole of the battery, with the other end plunged into the acid in the pan, and twisted round a piece of common quartz ; on which quartz, after many months' action, are forming singularly beautiful and perfectly formed crystals of a transparent substance, not yet analyzed, as they are still growing. These crystals are of the modification of the cube, and are of twelve or fourteen sides. The platina wire passes under...
Page 22 - ... distinctly proved. I next imagined, as others have done, that they might have originated from the water, and consequently made a close examination of numbers of vessels filled with the same fluid : in none of these could I perceive a trace of an insect, nor could I see any in any other part of the room.