( 241 ) 



Myfelf, and thofe of my family, have often, when contemplating 

 objects by the microfcope, feen an appearance of fmall globules be- 

 fore tlie fight, * which, I have no doubt, were particles iihaing from 

 the veflels in the eye, and lying on its furface : thefe, v/ith the 

 leaf! motion of the eye, feemed to be in great agitation, and many 

 would affirm, that they faw living creatures before their fight ; but 

 wlioever gives this lubjeft an attentive confideration, will find, that 

 thele globules or ftreaks, though they feem, while the eye is 

 kept Hill, to be in motion, fometimes upwards and fometimes down- 

 wards, yet they do not alter their pofition in refpeft of each other ; 

 and perliaps at another time we fhall fee none, or if any, of a very 

 different kind. I believe, however, that this appearance is what has 

 led fome people to fancy, that they beheld animalcules moving in 

 water, even after it has been boiled, and to affirm, that thefe are the 

 fame kind of animalcules which I profefs to have plainly feen : 

 but we inuft forgive fuch perfons their error, confidering they 

 know no better. 



* The Tranflator can give a flrong fimilar inftance, from his own painful experience ; for, 

 having met with an accident by which the furface of his eye was injured, the confequence was, 

 for fome hours after the hurt, an appearance of minute, wonderfully bright globules, feeming 

 to whirl round the ball of the eye with a rapidity like lightning ; and, for feveral following 

 days, many dark fpecks, in motion before the fight ; but all, as Mr. Leeuwenhoek fays, pre- 

 ferving the fame diftance in refpedt of each other : one of thefe in particular, appeared in fize, 

 colour, and £hape, much like a common fly, which feemed to be running along the wainfcot of 

 the room, or upon the table. 





Gga 



