il SEMINAL VERMICULI, 4a 
culi with greater certainty ; this being one of the 
chief objects propofed ; and, when once eftablith- 
ed, not only wil] the contradictory opinions con- 
cerning the nature of {permatic vermiculi, already 
explained and difcufled, be confuted, but we may 
alfo anticipate every new hypothefis that can be 
fuggefted. 
One day, during winter, I had abundance of 
femen, taken from the veflels of a dead body (1) ; 
and, wifhjng to preferye the vermiculi fome hours 
alive, put the glafs containing them in the fun- 
fhine, on the outfide of a window. The heat of the 
fun was 70°, which kept them alive a confiderable 
time: but obferving the vermiculi an hour ajter- 
wards, it gave me extreme furprife to find almoft 
the whole motionlefs. I knew not whether this 
indicated real or apparent death ; and, thinking 
to iatisfy myfelf by expofing them to greater heat, 
I tranfported them near the fire. Experience 
had taught me how inftrumental heat is in reftor- 
ing vermiculi to motion. But it was in vain; 
and although kept here a long time, they mani- 
fefted no fign of life, It was otherwife with thofe 
left in the fhade, and thefe carried to the fire ; 
for there was’another portion of femen in a watch- 
glafs in the fame apartment. The vermiculi alfo 
had 
(1) When the kind of femen is not {pecified, that of 
man is always underftood, 
