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Handbooks in Separation Science
The goal of the series and volume editors is to develop a new vehicle for collating, interpreting,
and disseminating the essential fundamental and practical information of separation science for
future generations of separation scientists and to do this by creating the seminal work in the field.
Each volume is designed to cover a specific topic and contains relatively succinct chapters with a
sharp focus and clear presentation contributed by leading scientists in the field. The target audi-
ence for these volumes is professional scientists with responsibility for managing or participating
in research projects in either academia or industry. Included in this group are graduate students
and professionals in disciplines other than separation science seeking insight into a topic at a
level associated with current capabilities. The current volume follows on from the success of
earlier volumes with additional volumes in production or planned for the future.
Edited by
Colin F. Poole
Elsevier
Radarweg 29, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, United Kingdom
50 Hampshire Street, 5th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in
evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described
herein. In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety
and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.
To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors, contributors, or
editors, assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter
of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods,
products, instructions, or ideas contained in the material herein.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
1.1 Introduction
The origins of solid-phase extraction are as old as chromatography, which in its early
days was exploited for the isolation of compounds from mixtures by their selective
interaction with a solid stationary phase and subsequent recovery by elution in a
mobile phase. Chromatography and extraction have since diverged in their general
function in chemical analysis and are regarded as complementary techniques today.
Extraction is typically employed for isolation, preconcentration, matrix simplification,
or solvent exchange ahead of the separation and identification of compounds by
chromatographic-based (and other) techniques. The key to understanding the relation-
ship between these common laboratory techniques is to consider extraction as an
enabling technique that modifies sample properties to facilitate a successful separation
and detection of target compounds by the most appropriate technique. In the absence
of an extraction step the sample would appear to be too complex, too dilute or incom-
patible with sustaining instrument performance rendering the analysis unsuccessful.
Overtime the scale, speed, material costs, and level of automation for the extraction
step have adapted to changing laboratory needs. Thus, solid-phase extraction, one
variant of extraction methods, is a dynamic field, and while old, it is still heavily
researched with the flux of advances far from concluded. At the time of writing, it
is reasonable to identify miniaturization, advances in material science, ease of automa-
tion, and compatibility with the goals of green analytical chemistry as the primary
driving forces maintaining the general interest in advancing the techniques of solid-
phase extraction [1e3].
1950s was the use of activated carbon-filled columns to isolate organic contaminants
from surface waters for toxicity evaluation [5]. The low concentration of contaminants
and the poor capability of instrumental methods to identify compounds and assess their
toxicity at that time resulted in large-scale operations in which thousands of liters of
water were sampled over several days. The introduction of macroreticular porous
polymers in the early 1970s was responsible for redirecting interest in solid-phase
extraction for both field and laboratory applications as well as extending its scope to
air sampling and the isolation of drugs from biological fluids. These sorbents had
reasonable mechanical strength, a large surface area, a large sample capacity, low
water retention, and provided high recovery of target compounds by solvent or thermal
desorption. Compared with activated carbon the overall recovery of target compounds
was generally better and irreversible adsorption and catalytic activity greatly dimin-
ished. These properties together with further improvements in instrumental methods
facilitated a general downsizing of sorbent beds, a reduction in sample size, and
increasing use of solid-phase extraction as a general laboratory technique for a wider
range of applications than was previously the case [6,7]. Porous polymers of high ther-
mal stability and low water retention were responsible for revolutionizing the analysis
of volatile organic compounds in air and purge gas samples from dynamic stripping of
volatile organic compounds from aqueous solution. Compounds trapped on the
sorbent bed were thermally desorbed directly into a gas chromatograph for analysis
eventually leading to fully automated sampling and analysis systems for routine use
[8,9]. The general acceptance of solid-phase extraction for sampling liquids, however,
occurred later in the early 1980s with the introduction of disposable cartridge devices
containing silica-based chemically bonded sorbents of a suitable particle size for sam-
ple processing by gently suction [10e14]. Within a few years cartridge-based solid-
phase extraction was considered a suitable alternative to liquid-liquid extraction for
many applications and entered a period of evolutionary change. Typical cartridge
devices consist of short columns (generally an open syringe barrel) containing sorbent
with a nominal particle size between 20 and 60 mm, preferably with a narrow particle
size range, packed between porous plastic or metal frits, Fig. 1.1. A wide range of
sorbent chemistries (silica-based chemically bonded, mixed mode, porous polymer,
restricted access media, molecularly imprinted polymers, immunosorbent, bonded
cryptands, etc.) are available today providing for the diverse application base of
modern cartridge-based solid-phase extraction [12e14]. Low-volume cartridges or
precolumn devices soon appeared as the basis of online integrated systems for automa-
tion of the sampling and separation processes, in for example, solid-phase extraction
(SPE)-liquid chromatography (LC), SPE-gas chromatography (GC), SPE-capillary
electrophoresis (CE), SPE inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP) and
LC-SPE-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). By the mid-1990s these
systems had matured into robust practical systems in use in many laboratories with
a high sample workload and little variation in sample matrix, for example, drugs in
biological fluids, contaminants in surface waters, target compounds in food extracts,
etc. [15e18]. Standard solid-phase extraction procedures lend themselves to automa-
tion using robotic platforms or special purpose processing units that simultaneously
extract and prepare samples for separation [12,19]. Multiwell plates with a sorbent
Core concepts and milestones in the development of solid-phase extraction 3
Figure 1.1 Solid-phase extraction using a cartridge device for liquid samples (A) and gas-phase
samples (B).
bed at the bottom of the well combined with liquid handling robots are suitable for
high-throughput parallel sample processing [20].
Cartridge-based solid-phase extraction was initially marketed as a replacement for
traditional liquid-liquid extraction. Traditional liquid-liquid extraction methods were
viewed as labor intensive, difficult to automate, and frequently plagued by practical
problems, such as emulsion formation. In addition, they tend to consume large
volumes of high purity solvents, some of which are considered significant health
hazards with high disposal costs [5,12,21]. Cartridge-based solid-phase extraction pro-
cedures, on the other hand, were more economical, afforded shorter sample processing
times, consumed less solvent, and allowed for simpler sample handling procedures.
They are also more convenient for field sampling because they minimize the transport
and storage problems associated with bulk samples, which have to be returned to the
laboratory for processing. These arguments, although persuasive at the time, are not as
true today. Modern liquid-liquid extraction procedures in their several forms, known
collectively as liquid phase microextraction, address many of the problems associated
with traditional liquid-liquid extraction and compete effectively and complement
solid-phase extraction procedures [22e24].
It should not be overlooked that cartridge-based solid-phase extraction has its own,
albeit different, problems to those of liquid-liquid extraction. The extraction properties
of solid-phase sorbents are not as reproducible as those for solvents. Typical sorbent
surfaces contain more than one functional group in amounts not easily replicated by
synthesis. In addition, their sorption properties are typically more adversely affected
by contaminants. Sorbents also tend to have a higher level of extractable contaminants
originating from the manufacturing process and from packaging materials. This
chemical background may interfere in the subsequent sample analysis. Rinsing of
the sorbent bed prior to use and using blanks to establish background contamination
levels diminishes sample throughput and adds significantly to solvent consumption
4 Solid-Phase Extraction
and sample processing costs. Sorbents are also affected by sample processing condi-
tions, such as overloading, displacement of target compounds by excess matrix, and
blocking of sorbent pores. These problems easily go unnoticed resulting in unforeseen
changes in the recovery of target compounds.
Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was introduced in 1990 as an alternative
approach to cartridge-based solid-phase extraction, which was well established by
this time [3,25]. It is sometimes thought of as a miniaturized version of solid-
phase extraction as implied by its name, but this is not the case. The downscaling
of solid-phase extraction to accommodate small sample volumes, but otherwise
incorporating the same extraction principles, is correctly known as porous membrane
protected micro-solid-phase extraction, or simply micro-solid-phase extraction
(mSPE) and first appeared in 2006 [26,27]. It employs a small sorbent bed enclosed
in a porous membrane allowing solvent and low-mass compounds access to the sor-
bent bed while excluding macromolecules. The ratio of sample volume to sorbent
surface area (or volume) is low in the relative sense but large compared with the fiber
format used in solid-phase microextraction, and exhaustive extraction of target com-
pounds remains the general goal. The fiber format employs a thin layer of immobi-
lized extraction phase coated on the outside of a fused-silica or metal-wire support.
The extraction fiber is attached to the plunger of a modified microsyringe which both
protects and facilitates manipulation of the fiber during sampling, Fig. 1.2 [28]. The
main difference between solid-phase microextraction and solid-phase extraction is
the extreme ratio of the sample to sorbent volume or surface area. An extremely small
amount of sorbent is utilized in comparison to the sample volume in solid-phase
microextraction and exhaustive extraction of target compounds is not favored. Typi-
cally only a small portion of the target compounds is extracted from the sample
(negligible depletion unless the distribution constant is unusually large). This amount
increases with the extraction time until equilibrium conditions are reached, as illus-
trated by Fig. 1.3 [29]. For calibration either the linear portion of the preequilibrium
or at or near equilibrium conditions are selected [3,30,31]. The time to reach equilib-
rium can be long, in which case the linear portion of the preequilibrium curve be-
comes the preferred choice. Extraction in the preequilibrium region is kinetically
controlled and mass transfer is dominated by diffusion (stagnant solution) or by
the method of agitation (agitated solution). The selectivity of the extraction process
is usually poor in the preequilibrium region compared with equilibrium sampling.
The latter is controlled by the differences in the extraction phase-sample solution dis-
tribution constants. The small volume of extraction phase favors applications in field
sampling (spot and time weighted average), as it is unnecessary to determine the sam-
ple volume processed. The amount of extracted target compounds is independent of
the sample volume so long as the product of the distribution constant and extraction
phase volume (or surface area) is small compared with the sample volume [29,32].
Solid-phase microextraction can be used for sampling by direct immersion,
headspace extraction, or extraction with membrane protection [28]. It integrates sam-
pling, extraction, concentration, and sample introduction into a single solvent-free step
for gas chromatography and mass spectrometry and with minimal solvent use for
liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. Sample processing requires
Core concepts and milestones in the development of solid-phase extraction 5
two steps: the distribution of target compounds between the extraction phase and the
sample matrix and desorption of the extracted compounds by thermal desorption
(solventless extraction) or solvent desorption. Only a small volume of solvent is
required for solvent desorption due to the small volume of extraction phase. Thus,
the concentration of target compounds in the desorption solvent is relatively high
even though the amount extracted is considerably less than for exhaustive extraction.
The minimal dilution, or complete transfer in the case of gas phase desorption,
compensates for the low absolute amount of extracted compounds. The often cited
advantages of solid-phase microextraction are its ease of miniaturization, ease of auto-
mation, and straightforward coupling with different measurement systems [2,3,33,34].
The main factors affecting sampling efficiency include: the extraction phase chemistry,
extraction mode, agitation method, sample modification (pH, ionic strength, presence
of organic solvent, etc.), extraction time, and desorption conditions. Limitations
include the small number of commercially available extraction phases, the fragile
nature of fused-silica fibers, limited fiber reusability due to carryover or matrix
contamination, and the short lifetime of physically coated fibers. Problems are more
6 Solid-Phase Extraction
Figure 1.3 Extraction time profile for sampling with a coated fiber (solid-phase
microextraction). Amount of analyte extracted ¼ n (ne at equilibrium), Kfs ¼ analyte
distribution constant between the extraction phase and sample, Vf ¼ volume of extraction phase,
Vs ¼ sample volume, and Cs ¼ analyte concentration in the sample matrix.
Reproduced from Souza-silva EA, Jiang R, Rodriguez-Lafuente A, Gionfriddo E, Pawliszyn J.
A critical review of the state of the art of solid-phase microextraction of complex matrices I.
Environmental analysis. Trends Anal Chem 2015;71:224e235 with permission.
common with direct immersion in samples of high complexity, such as biological and
food samples, for which the development of biocompatible fiber coatings is an active
research area [35e37].
glass fiber disks contain 10e30 mm diameter sorbent particles woven into a glass fiber
matrix [41]. The small-diameter disks are rigid and self-supporting, while the larger
diameter disks require a supporting structure similar to particle-loaded membranes.
Laminar disks consist of a sandwich of 10 mm sorbent particles in a consolidated
0.5e1.0 mm bed located between two glass-fiber filters, with a screen to hold the filters
in place [10]. The 50 mm diameter laminar disks are typically mounted in an open
syringe barrel superficially similar to conventional cartridge devices [10].
The slow sample processing rates for large sample volumes typical of cartridges and
their low tolerance to blockage by particles and sorbed matrix components provided
the initial interest in disk technology for environmental applications, such as the
analysis of surface waters for trace contaminants [40]. On account of their larger
cross-sectional area and decreased pressure drop disks allow the use of higher sample
flow rates resulting in shorter sample processing times [38]. An integral prefilter
attached to the top surface of the disk reduces plugging by suspended particles.
Small-diameter disks are suitable for handling samples of restricted volume. Small-
diameter disks facilitate integrated sample processing techniques, such as in-vial
desorption and on-disk derivatization [42]. The large surface area per unit bed mass
of disks facilitates their use for passive sampling in which the disk is suspended in
the sample as opposed to the conventional approach of passing the sample through
the disk in a manner similar to filtration. The slow equilibrium of the extraction pro-
cess, even for agitated solutions, however, is a limitation for laboratory applications
but is less of a concern for field studies [43]. Particle-loaded membranes have been
utilized for biomimetic extraction as surrogate models for bioconcentration and for
toxicity risk assessment [44]. Disk technology contributed directly to the automation
of solid-phase extraction methods through the development of multiwell extraction
plates, used for the cleanup of samples in high-throughput screening techniques in
drug development [20]. The characteristic physical properties of disks have supported
their application for integrated sampling/detection techniques such as in situ radio-
chemical, phosphorescence, and X-ray fluorescence detection and as a substrate for
MALDI mass spectrometry [45e47].
Microextraction by packed sorbent bed (MEPS) was introduced in 2004 as a mini-
aturized version of cartridge-based solid-phase extraction designed for handling small-
sample volumes with a view to easy automation using a laboratory liquid handler
[48,49]. The extraction device is typically a 100e250 mL syringe housing a short
bed containing 1e2 mg sorbent located either between the plunger and the needle
or built into the needle, Fig. 1.4. The MEPS syringe facilitates low-dead volume
sample processing by vertical movement of the plunger with sample and solvent
flow possible in both directions through the sorbent bed in a cyclic fashion. This is
in contrast to conventional solid-phase extraction techniques which utilize a unidirec-
tional flow and a single contact between the sample and solvents and the sorbent bed.
Needle-based extraction formats now include internally coated needles [50] and needle
trap devices with sorbent-packed needles [50,51]. Internally coated needles typically
employ a stainless steel needle internally coated with a 50 mm thick film of immobi-
lized stationary phase resulting in an open structure similar to open tubular columns in
gas chromatography. Typical applications include automated headspace sampling of
8 Solid-Phase Extraction
Figure 1.4 Modified syringe for microextraction by packed sorbent with an expanded view of
the sorbent bed (canister). The canister has a dead volume of about 7 mL.
Reproduced from Moein MM, Abdel-Rehim A, Abdel-Rehim M. Microextraction by packed
sorbent (MEPS). Trends Anal Chem 2015;67:34e44 with permission.
Figure 1.5 Arrow solid-phase microextraction device with exposed sorbent (sampling mode)
left and injection (covered) mode right.
Reproduced from Helin A, Ronnko T, Parshintser K, Hartonen K, Schillin B, Laubli T, Riekkola
ML. Solid-phase microextraction arrow for the sampling of volatile amines in wastewater and
atmosphere. J Chromatogr A 2015;1426:56e63 with permission.
rod of larger diameter than a conventional fiber coated with a larger amount of extrac-
tion phase, while still being compatible with thermal desorption in a standard injection
liner of a gas chromatograph on account of its dimensions and sharp, closed tip
[50,54]. Alternatively the surface area-to-volume ratio of the extraction phase can
be increased using a thin-film format in which the extraction phase is immobilized
on the outer surface of a support of suitable geometry, Fig. 1.6 [29,55,56]. The
thin-film geometry is the basis for fully automated parallel sample processing in a
Figure 1.6 In-tube solid-phase microextraction with the extraction column utilized as the
sample loop of the injection valve of a liquid chromatograph. The valve is shown in the
extraction position (load) on the left and extract injection position (inject) on the right.
Reproduced from Queiroz MEC, Melo LP. Selective capillary coating material for in-tube solid-
phase microextraction coupled to liquid chromatography to determine drugs and biomarkers in
biological samples. A review. Anal Chim Acta 2014;826:1e11 with permission.
10 Solid-Phase Extraction
96-well plate format utilizing an extraction unit fashioned into a 96-blade device in
which the extraction phase is coated over the flat end of each blade [33,52,55].
An early approach for automated solid-phase microextraction from 1997 was the
coupling of an internally coated capillary column, the extraction device, to a liquid
chromatograph for separation and detection known as in-tube solid-phase microextrac-
tion [57e61]. Two approaches are typically used today [59]. In the first approach a
short capillary column is placed between the injection loop and injection needle of
an autosampler. The injection syringe repeatedly draws and ejects samples from a
series of vials under computer control cycling the sample through the capillary column
in the forward and reverse direction for each sample until equilibrium is reached or
extraction is sufficient. The extracted compounds are subsequently desorbed by
solvent from the extraction column and transported to the analytical column for sepa-
ration. Alternatively, the capillary column is used as a sample loop for an injection
valve and target compounds are extracted from the sample with the valve in the load
position and then transferred to the column by mobile phase after switching the valve
to the inject position, Fig. 1.6 [59]. This arrangement is favored for handling larger sam-
ple volumes to increase sensitivity. Wire-in-tube or fiber-in-tube configurations can be
used to enhance the extraction rate and efficiency by reducing the phase ratio of the
extraction column. Capillary columns of the type used for gas chromatography are
often used as the extraction device, as well as a wider range of laboratory-made extrac-
tion phases to enhance selectivity, for example, poly(pyrrole), restricted access media,
immunosorbents, molecularly imprinted polymers, monolithic sorbents, etc. [59]. Sam-
ples are processed sequentially through in-tube solid-phase microextraction, which
cannot be considered high-throughput when compared with parallel sample processing
using the 96-well plate format. Other general limitations include a low extraction effi-
ciency for some compounds, a low sorbent loading capacity, instability of some extrac-
tion phases, and long extraction times resulting from poor mass transfer kinetics.
Stir bar sorptive extraction was introduced in 1999 and quickly gained popularity
[62e65]. The extraction device consists of a magnetic stir bar in a glass sleeve exter-
nally coated with a 0.3e1.0 mm layer of extraction phase. Liquid samples are analyzed
by direct immersion of the stir bar with vigorous stirring and gas phase samples by sus-
pending the stir bar in the headspace above the sample. Extracted compounds are
recovered by either thermal desorption or solvent desorption. The limited number of
commercially available extraction phases [poly(dimethylsiloxane), poly(acrylate),
and an ethylene glycol/silicone copolymer] limit general applications to the extraction
of compounds of low- and intermediate-polarity from water [63,65]. The larger vol-
ume of extraction phase, typically two orders of magnitude or more compared with
fiber-based devices, is responsible for the enhanced extraction efficiency as well as
the longer extraction times required to reach either equilibrium or sufficient extraction.
The relatively low-selectivity of commercially available extraction phases result in
significant matrix sorption with possible interference in the separation process [65].
The sampling process is not easy to automate and a special purpose-designed thermal
desorption unit is required for the sequential desorption of extracted compounds from
stir bars for gas chromatography [62]. Direct contact between the stir bar and the
extraction vessel and the high stirring rates employed for direct immersion extraction
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päin ja oli jo sen tavottamaisillaan, kun jalkansa luiskahtivat, musta
liukas lima kalliossa veden rajassa livetti, hän keikahti takaperin ja
suilahti jyrkkää kallion kuvetta myöten syvyyteen.
Muukalaista verta.
*****
Korventauksen koirat näyttivät tehneen yksituumaisen päätöksen
asettua viholliselle kannalle kahta kylään ilmestynyttä muukalaista
vastaan. Milloin muukalaiset tulivat heidän seuraansa, antoivat he
niille säälimättömästi selkään. Etenkin kahden naapuritalon koirat
hammastivat yhtenään näitä pentukoiria, jotka suuruudestaan
huolimatta olivat vielä hentoja ja heikkoja. Penttilän vanha vihainen
Nuoli kerran puri Caroa niin pahasti, että rautatieinsinööri uhkasi
ampua Nuolen.
Kuka tiesi minkä tähden tuo Silju rakastui Caroon? Caro oli
pystykorvain mielestä hirvittävän ruma koira. Vaan Silju viihtyi Caron
seurassa, sillä Caro oli ylhäissukuinen, jaloverinen rakastaja, jolle
seikalle hempeä sukupuoli aina antaa niin suuren arvon. Caro osasi
mielistelläkin Siljua paremmin kuin kylän pystykorvat. Hän heittäytyi
Siljun eteen selälleen ja liehakoi; hän antoi Siljun leikillään pureksia
käpäliään. Erittäinkin miellytti Siljua, kun Caro aina otti suureen
leveään suuhunsa hänen pienen suipon päänsä ja pureksi sitä
hellävaraa. Caro voitti Siljun kokonaan omakseen.
He olivat lapsia.
Talossa oli vähän pienempi tyttö, joka katseli ujoa pikku poikaa.
Tyttö meni kohta pojan lähelle ja kysyi, eikö pojalla ollut hyvin kylmä
ja hyvin nälkä. Olihan pojalla hyvin kylmä ja hyvin nälkä. Tyttö katseli
suurella säälillä tuota pikku poikaa, jonka kasvot olivat kylmästä
sinervän punaiset, kalvoset vilusta mustat, jolla oli suuri, väljä ja
repaleinen nuttu, jonka ruumis värisi, ja veripunainen varvas näkyi
kengästä.
— Äiti!
— No mitä?
— Minä olen jo niin kauvan ollut teillä, minun pitää nyt mennä
toiseen taloon.
— Vaan äiti lupasi, että saat olla meillä. Jää vaan vielä meille!
houkutteli Hilma.
Kun Hilma, ainoa lapsi, niin paljon pojasta piti ja omasta säälistään
antoi emäntä pojan jäädä yhä edelleen taloon. Hän opetti hänet
käämiä tekemään ja käytti häntä pienillä asioilla. Kun Hilma yhä
vakuutti pojalle, että hän saa olla aina heillä, tavastui poika vähitellen
taloon eikä muistanut enää yrittääkään pois, vaan oli kuin kotonaan.
Äiti oli varma, että heistä vielä pari tulee, vaan kuka tiesi milloin,
kun ovat vielä niin lapselliset. Hän toivoi, että se tapahtuisi hänen
elinaikanaan. Mutta nuoret rakastivat toisiaan niin salaa ja ujostivat
häntä.
— Minä liitän nyt teidät yhteen, sanoi äiti ja asetti heidät käsikkäin.
Onko se teidän tahtonne?
Äiti näki, että hänen täytyy asia auttaa perille asti, ja eräänä
päivänä ehdotti hän, että heidät pantaisiin kuulutuksiin ja kohta
vihittäisiin. Hän vanhenee vanhenemistaan eikä voi enää kauvan
elää, vaan tahtoisi nähdä heidän liittonsa ennen kuolemataan.
Hän siunasi tuon puhtaan sijan, että ne kaksi tulisivat sillä aina
lepäämään onnellisina.
— Hilma!
— Mitä, äiti?
— Tulepas tänne!
Tuo toinen vuode ajan ollen hävisi äidin tahdosta, vaan äidillä oli
sittekin omat epäilyksensä lastensa yhdyselämästä. Hänellä oli
vanha tarkka silmä, jonka ohi ei mennyt mitään.
Viiden, kuuden kuukauden kuluttua sai Kaarle työnjohtajan paikan
eräässä pienemmän kaupungin kirjapainossa. Sinne muutti Kaarle
Hilmansa kanssa.
Junankulettaja.
Lehmiä hän suorastaan vihasi ja inhosi, ja kun hän näki niitä radan
varrella syömässä ja katsoa ammottamassa ohi kiitävää junaa, oli
hänen tapanaan sanoa: "Tuolla lailla te ammottaisitte, vaikka
päällenne laskisi." Kun taas lehmät läksivät peloissaan juoksemaan
radan vartta aidan toisella puolen, sanoi hän: "Ne varmaan tulisivat
radalle junan eteen, jos pääsisivät." Kun lehmä sattui radalle ja
häntä suorana alkoi juosta ja laukata edellä pakoon, ei hän voinut
olla nauramatta, niin rumalta ja typerältä se hänestä näytti. Hyvä
hevonen voi joitakuita kilometrejä juosta junan edellä, mutta että
lehmä — oh, se oli niin mieletöntä ja inhoittavaa, että hän olisi
suonut veturissa olevan laitoksen, joka olisi syytänyt tulta ja tulikiveä
tuohon elukkaan, ennen kuin se joutui veturin alle. Ajettuaan lehmän
päälle hän aina kertoi, että lehmä on niin kauhean tyhmä eläin ja
mitenkä hän ajaessaan hevosella säälimättä laskee päälle, eikä
odota kunnes tämä vetelä eläin on kömpinyt ylös maantien keskeltä,
johon se on ruvennut märehtimään. Tavallisesti se ennättää
kuitenkin hevosen edestä nousta, vaan vetäytyy syrjään niin
laiskasti, että useasti hänen ajaessaan on kärrinpyörä raapaissut sitä
lonkkaluuhun tai kylkeen.
Heittäytyä junan alle saadakseen siten surmansa, sitä vastaan
hänellä ei ollut mitään, se oli varma että surmansa siinä sai, ja
saihan ihminen valita parhaimman keinon kuolemataankin varten.
Jotka taas muka vahingossa jäivät junan alle, heitä hän ei säälinyt
ollenkaan, sillä hänen mielestään oli joka tapauksessa kunkin oma
syynsä, jos jäi junan alle, kun kerran rautatieliikkeessä on niin selvät
säännöt ja järjestykset, että kaikkein yksinkertaisimmankin ihmisen
pitäisi osata niitä noudattaa. Eläimet eivät tosin tietäneet
ohjesäännöistä, mutta niiden omistajain piti tietää eikä päästää
elukoitaan radalle; siitä ei ollut mitään edesvastausta, jos ajoi radalle
tulleen elukan päälle.
*****
— Mutta kun lehmä on niin laiska, ettei mene edestä pois, märehtii
vaan!