JE.IO ANIMALCULA OF INFUSIONS. I. 



fufficient to kill animalcula, which I could not 

 have believed. 



To learn whether the eledricity dilTipated by- 

 metal points, fixed to conductors, would deftroy 

 animalcula, I applied a drop of infufion to one^ 

 and found it to be fo only if the eledtric fluid 

 pafled for fome time from the point. 



It was evident, in fhort, that every fhock, 

 however feeble, was always fatal. But fimple 

 eleftricity, that is which operates filently, had 

 no effecl, as M. de SaufTure alfo obferved. As 

 to the kind of animalcula, I can freely affirm 

 that experiment has been omitted on none of 

 the vaft variety, and electricity has been alike 

 fatal to all. 



The perfeft coincidence of my experiments 

 with M. de Sauflure's leads me to publilh them ; 

 but the friendfhlp I had always borne to Sig. 

 Mofcati, impofed the duty of firft inquiring whe- 

 ther he had repeated our experiments as he pro- 

 mifed, when I communicated them to the Ge- 

 nevefe naturalift. I tranfcribe his anfwer, as he 

 leemed to wilh it fhould be publifhed. It both 

 proves that he kept his promife, and obtained 

 new refults, which cannot but do great credit to 

 truth. 



' In your lafl letter, you inquire whether I 

 ' have repeated the experiments which we made 

 ^ fome years ago on electrifying animalcula, 



* which 



