t6 ANIMALCULA OF INFUSIONSi I. 



quently obferved much fooner In the latter thail 

 in the former. A little boiling will not deconipofc 

 vegetable feeds, for decompofition is effefted by 

 flow and gradual maceration. 



Some days after thefe experiments, the niimbe? 

 of animalcula always became greater; and towards 

 the middle of Oftober increafed fo much, that 

 each of the thirty-two infufions was equally fwarm* 

 ing. The only difference was in fize, figure, and 

 motion : I enjoyed this plealing microfcopic fcen^ 

 uninterrupted until the i o of November ; and it 

 might have amufed me longer had I continued 

 to examine the infufions. 



It ought not to be omitted, that experirnents 

 exadly fimilar were foon afterwards made with 

 peafe, lentils, beans, and hemp feed. Except in 

 the beans, the refult fo far correfponded, that a 

 greater number of animalcula appeared in the in- 

 fufions that had boiled moil. 



It is a fad edabliihed by the univerfal concur- 

 rence of philofophers, that, after water has come 

 to the ftate of ebuIHtion, it cannot acquire a 

 greater degree of heat, however much the aftion 

 of the fire may be augmented, provided it can 

 evaporate. Therefore, when I fay the feeds boil- 

 ed longeft have acquired greater heat, I mean it 

 to be underfiood in time and not intenftty, by 

 fuppofing that the duration of boiling encreafed 



the 



