6 GENERAL HISTORY OF 



minable preservation and extension of it, in air and water, 

 ensues, which, poetically, borders upon eternal life and 

 growth. 



12. The copulation of gemmae, which perhaps includes 

 the hitherto unsolved poly-embryonate riddle of the seeds 

 of all plants and vegetable formations, is solved in the 

 family Closterina. 



13. The Infusoria, in consequence of their siliceous 

 shells, form indestructible earths, stone, and rocky 

 masses. 



14. With lime and soda we can prepare glass, and 

 swimming bricks, out of invisible animalcules ; use them as 

 flints ; probably prepare iron from them ; and use the 

 mountain meal, composed of them, as food in hunger. 



15. The invisible Infusoria are sometimes hurtful, by 

 causing the death of fish in ponds, deterioration of clear 

 water, and boggy smells ; but not, as has been supposed, 

 in giving rise to malaria, plague, and other maladies, 



16. The Infusoria appear to be (as far as is yet known) 

 sleepless. 



17. The Infusoria partly decompose (zerfliessen) by 

 egg laying, and through that change passively, and mani- 

 fold their form. 



18. The Infusoria form invisible intestinal worms in 

 many animals and in man, even if the Spermatozoa are 

 excluded from amongst them. 



19. The invisible Infusoria have also lice and intestinal 

 worms themselves. 



20. The Infusoria possess a comparatively long life. 



21. As the pollen of the Pine falls yearly from the 

 clouds, in the form of sulphur-rain, so do the much smaller 



