98 ANIMALCULA OF INFUSIO^^S. 'I, 



« 



of irritability, and real death is the confequence. 

 The mufcular fibre is contrafted by cold ; the 

 liquid, rendering it moid and pliant, is infpiflat- 

 ed ; but freezing vitiates the ufe of this fluid, by 

 changing it into fo many icicles, whofe fharp and 

 cutting points lacerate the fineft and moft delicate 

 parts of the fibre. The mufcular flelh is then 

 difcovered to be full of thefe icicles ; and, when 

 one attempts to twiil or bend it, fradlure enfues, 

 as of a friable fubftance. 



CHAP. VI. 



INFUSION ANIMALCULA EXPOSED TO VAFcIOUS ODOURS 

 AND LIQUORS ; TO ELECTRICITY AND A VACUUM. 



(certain odours are to infeds the moft viru- 

 lent poifon. Such has Reaumur found the oil 

 of turpentine, and the fumes of tobacco. The 

 odour of camphor, according to Menghini, has 

 the fame effect ; and its vapours are ilill more 

 efficacious when burnt (i). In my inveftigation, 

 I propofed-to inftitute the greateft pofTible num- 

 ber of comparifons between known animals and 

 thofe fo remarkable as the animalcula of infu- 

 fions, the better to penetrate their origin, nature, 



and 

 (f) Corcmentar. Acad. Bonon. T. 3. 



