ANIMALCULA OF INFUSIONS. 



I. 



conftantly pradifed, examining with a magnifier 

 a portion placed in a ftrong light. 



Where the animalcula are minute, or rare, 

 the thicknefs of the inmfion often prevents the 

 obferver from dillinguiihing whether any are 

 there or not. It is then neceffary to dilute the 

 drops with water. EUewhere it has been re- 

 marked, that diililled water was taken to make 

 the infufions ; common water might introduce 

 fome latent animalcule ( i ). In the courfe of thefe 

 obfervatlons and experiments, diftilled water has 

 alfo been employed for dilution, when required ; 

 and, for greater fecurity, examined with a mag- 

 nifier before being ufed. In particular cafes, the 

 accidental concealment o[ a fmgle animalcule 

 might vitiate the truth of the experiment. , 



I conceive it my duty to mention precautions 

 fo elfential, and to put it in every individual's 

 power to judge not only of the experiments and 

 obfervations themfelves, but of the mode of con- 

 ducting them m matters fo nice and important. 



On the 1 5 of September, I made thirty-tv/o 

 infufions ; and on the 23 examined them for 

 the firfl time. Animalcula were in all ; but the 

 number and fpecies different in each. In the 

 maize infufions, they were fmaller, and propor- 

 tionally more rare, according to the duration of 

 boiling. 



From 

 (i) Saggio o diflertazioxie citat. Cap. 4. 



