Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1898 — Tenacity of Life. [ARTICLE]

Tenacity of Life.

To go about the usual affairs of its daily existence minus a head, would appear to be a rather unsatisfactory business, but this is precisely what certain Insects seem capable of doing. Experiments have been made with common house flies, with the curious result that thirty-six hours after decapitation the bodies were seemingly as lively as ever. The bodies of butterflies have lived eighteen days after the heads were cut off. On the other hand, the heads soon lose all signs of vitality, rarely showing any Indications of consciousness after six hours. Whether the spinal cord and column do not extend above the shoulders of these Insects. or whether there Is some error In the theory that the severance of the spinal cord Is fatal, would seem to be debatable ground. There are Ashes that have a peculiar tenacity to life. If the head of the common fresh-water catfish or bull head Is cut off Immediately after the creature Is taken from the water, Its henrt will Ik? found to beat for some time.