{ <5 ) 



gots are to endure moiHure, we may conclude that, if in places 

 where Fleas abound, the floors or pavements be well wetted with 

 water, the maggots may be deflroyed, and confequently the places 

 cleared of Fleas. 



I have caufed a drawing to be made of the glafs wherein I in- 

 clofed the Fleas I had under my obfervation, for the information 

 of any who may chufe to profecute my experiments. Fig. 23, 

 N O P Q, is this glafs, the cavity or orifice of which, N O Q, is 

 about the fourth part of an inch in diameter : the fphere or globular 

 part, O P Q, is fomething larger, according as may happen in the 

 blowing it. I did not put more than two or three Fleas at a time into 

 one of thefe glaffes, and as foon as they had Laid any eggs, I took 

 them out of the glafs, that it might not be foiled by their excre- 

 ments or the vapour of their bodies, otherwife the hairs on the 

 bodies of the maggots Vv^ould Hick to thofe foulnefles, fo that they 

 could not be taken out of the glafs, but would there expire. 



I have now for feveral years obferved Fleas to lay eggs, and from 

 fuch of the eggs as were fruitful, maggots produced, which maggots 

 were afterwards changed into Fleas as before defcribed 



Since we then fee fo plainly, that the Flea is endowed with 

 as great perfection in its kind, as any large animal; all v^^hofe limbs 

 may be feen with the naked eye, can any one give credit to the 

 idle tales of old ? one aflerting that Fleas are produced from fand ; 

 another, from dull ; and another from the dung of pigeons ; and 

 laflly, from urine : for that Fleas can be produced from dull and 

 filth, I utterly deny, as appearing to me impoffible : neverthelels, 

 that out of the dust of a floor or pavement. Fleas will fometimes 

 come forth, I readily grant ; but this is brought about in quite a dif- 

 ferent manner. 



If many children be kept in a room, in which the Fleas are not 

 every day extirpated, and the floor or pavement is fometimes 

 fwept ; or if a floor or pavement be fwept near to a place where a 

 dog is accullomed to lye, there may very eafily be taken up among 



