^o animAlcula of infusions. i. 



trial. With regard to feeds, hope fliould not be 

 abandoned from reading in Duharael, that he 

 fucceeded in the germination of wheat which had 

 fuffered 234° in a flove ; and it is very probable 

 tbis feed is not unique. So many analogies ex- 

 ifting between feeds and eggs, I indulged the 

 hope of finding fomething fimilar in the lat- 

 ter. Thefe fads were fufficient inducements to 

 make new experiments on feeds and eggs, to 

 which I was additionally incited by the mofl fm- 

 gular phenomenon of the lowefl animalcula ori- 

 ginating in boiled infufions : and, in cafe eggs 

 and feeds fhould not withftand the heat of boil- 

 ing water, it would ftill be ufeful to afcertain 

 what they could fupport, by paffing through va- 

 rious degrees to that which was fatal to them. 

 But there was one particular inquiry not to be 

 omitted, namely, whether animals and plants 

 were more eafily deftroyed than their eggs and 

 feeds, and in what proportion, the fame as ani- 

 malcula of the lowed clafs can fupport heat lefs 

 than their germs. As all fuch invefligations 

 would greatly elucidate the prefent refearches, I 

 endeavoured to realize them by experiments, 

 which will afford matter for the fubfequent chap- 

 ter. 



CHAPv 



