INFUSORIAL ANIMALCULES. 7 



animalcules appear (from being passively elevated with the 

 watery vapour) floating in a live state in the atmosphere, 

 and sometimes, perhaps, mixed with the dust. 



22. In general, the Infusoria maintain themselves pretty 

 uniformly against all external influence, as do larger 

 organized bodies. It is true that they sometimes consume 

 strong poisons without immediate injury, but not without 

 an after effect. 



23. The weight of the invisible Infusoria, light as it is, 

 is yet calculable, and the most gentle current of air or 

 draught can play with their bodies as with the vapour 

 of water. 



24. The evident and great quickness of the motion 

 of Infusoria, is reducible as follows : Hydatina senta, 

 1-1 2th of an inch in four seconds ; Monas punctum, 

 l-12th in forty-eight seconds; Navicula gracilis, l-12th in 

 six minutes twenty-four seconds. 



25. Linneus said, omnis calx e vermibus : — either to 

 maintain or deny omnis silex omne ferrume vermibus, 

 would be, at the present moment, unjust. 



26. The direct observations as yet known upon the 

 theory of generatio primitiva are wanting in necessary 

 strictness. Those observers, who profess to have seen the 

 sudden origin of the minutest Infusoria from elementary 

 substances, have quite overlooked the compound structure 

 of these organic bodies. 



27. ' ■ 



28. The power of infusorial organization is instinctively 

 shown by the strong chewing apparatus, with teeth, which 

 they possess, and their evincemeht, likewise, of a complete 

 mental activity. 



