The Cornhill Magazine, Vol. I, January 1860Various
General
The Cornhill Magazine, Vol. I, January 1860
Various
England -- Periodicals; English literature -- Periodicals; Short stories, English -- Periodicals
D A bud detached and swimming free.]
Having studied the action of these cilia in microscopic animals, you
will be prepared to understand their office in your own organism. The
lining membrane of your air-passages is covered with cilia; which may
be observed by following the directions of Professor Sharpey, to whom
science is indebted for a very exhaustive description of these organs.
“To see them in motion, a portion of the ciliated mucous membrane may
be taken from a recently-killed quadruped. The piece of membrane is
to be folded with its free, or ciliated, surface outwards, placed on
a slip of glass, with a little water or serum of blood, and covered
with thin glass or mica. When it is now viewed with a power of 200
diameters, or upwards, a very obvious agitation will be perceived on
the edge of the fold, and this appearance is caused by the moving
cilia with which the surface of the membrane is covered. Being set
close together, and moving simultaneously or in quick succession, the
cilia, when in brisk action, give rise to the appearance of a bright
transparent fringe along the fold of the membrane, agitated by such
a rapid and incessant motion that the single threads which compose
it cannot be perceived. The motion here meant is that of the cilia
themselves; but they also set in motion the adjoining fluid, driving
it along the ciliated surface, as is indicated by the agitation of any
little particles that may accidentally float in it. The fact of the
conveyance of fluids and other matters along the ciliated surface, as
well as the direction in which they are impelled, may also be made
manifest by immersing the membrane in fluid, and dropping on it some
finely-pulverized substance (such as charcoal in fine powder), which
will be slowly but steadily carried along in a constant and determinate
direction.”[25]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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