MALPIGHI, SWAMMERDAM, LEEUWENHOEK. S77 



the smaller animals. Upon this question, Swammerdam took a positive 

 stand: he ranged himself on the side of the more scientific naturalists 

 against the spontaneous origin of life. In reference to this matter he 

 says: 



"In attentively examining the development of insects, of animals 

 with blood, and vegetables, one recognizes that all these beings grow 

 and develop according to one law, and one feels how false is the opinion 

 that attributes to fortuitous causes such regular and constant effects." 



Antonius A. Leeuwenhoek 



ANTONY VAX LEEUWENHOEK. 1632-1723. 



In Leeuwenhoek we find a composed and better balanced man. 

 Blessed with a vigorous constitution, he lived ninety-one years, and 

 worked to the end of his life, lie was born in 1632, four years after 

 Malpighi and five before Swammerdam; they were, therefore, strictly 

 speaking, contemporaries, lie stands in contrast with the other men 

 in being self-taught: he did not have the advantage of a university 

 training, and apparently never had a master in scientific studies. This 

 lack of S3 r steniatic training shows in the desultory character of his ex- 

 tensive observations. Impelled by the same gift of genius that drove 



VOL. I.VITI.— 37 



