1QQ BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



modifying our rougher natures, and like the gentle south wind on 

 icy rocks imperceptibly influence all within her reach, and mould 

 them to her own perfections. Use well, then, the means so munifi- 

 cently placed in your hands. Then shall the time come, when 

 you may beat your swords into plowshares, and your spears into 

 pruning hooks. Then 



" The stormy elangor 

 Of wild war music o'er the earth shall cease : 

 Lore shall tread out the baleful fire of anger. 

 And in ita ashea plant the tree of peace." 



Lecture by Prof. C. F. Brackett of Bowdoin College, on 



Parasites or Animals. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen :—l propose to offer some remarks 

 on one of the great divisions of animal parasites — the Entozoa. 



These are animals which, during some period of their lives, reside 

 either in the natural cavities, or in the organic substance of other 

 animals. They present a more or less elongated form, and a 

 jointed structure. Except touch, organs of special sense arc 

 apparently absent. 



Their wide distribution and occurrence in closed cavities have 

 given rise to many speculations and theories as to their origin and 

 modes of propagation ; and it is only a comparatively short time 

 since we began to be possessed of any reliable information in 

 regard to these points. 



It will serve to bring what is known more clearly before us if 

 we pass in review one of the more prominent hypotheses. I refer 

 to that of " Spontaneous Generation," sometimes also called 

 "Equivocal Generation." 



The readiness with which the lower forms of life so abundantly 

 appear wherever organic matter is left to decay, would seem to 

 find an easy explanation if we could believe that, instead of suffer- 

 ing ultimate decomposition, such matter employs its residual force 

 in effecting transformation into organisms occupying a lower plane 

 than that occupied by the organism from which it was derived. 



Thus, urine, blood, milk, vegetable infusions, etc., left exposed 

 to the air under ordinary conditions, will, if properly examined, 

 after a short time, be found to contain countless thousands of 

 minute animated forms, exhibiting an intense activity. Those may 

 be imagined to bo transformed directly from the matters named. 



