The milk experiment that revealed a jellyfish’s hidden channels

In The Ocean World, Figuier reports that Duméril injected milk into jellyfish cavities and saw it penetrate internal vessels[[cite:5]]. This illustrates a contrast-revealing observation, not the creation of new structures. The experimental species, exact apparatus and channel pattern are not identified in this passage. The plates show a simplified reconstruction; the later book illustration is contextual, not a record of the specimen.

Figuier recorded a striking experiment: milk made internal channels visible in a jellyfish. Three scenes show what changed, and what the observation revealed.
Milk made a jellyfish’s hidden map visible.
Before the experiment, its transparent body gave little away.
The milk traced the channels.
Figuier reports that Duméril injected milk into the jellyfish’s cavities. Pale liquid entered internal passages.
It revealed structure. It did not create it.
The pale liquid made existing pathways easier to see. A body that looked like simple jelly had hidden organisation.

The milk experiment that revealed a jellyfish’s hidden channels

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