fc ANIMALCULA OF INFUSIONS. IS/ 



they are not corroborated by that authenticity 

 which is eflentiai in a cafe fo ftrange and para- 

 doxical, more efpecially as the pulmonary ftru£ture 

 manifefts that they are adapted for refpiration. 

 Therefore, until fa£ls are produced to the con- 

 trary, more credible and better proved, we have 

 fufficient reafon to aflert, there is no living ani- 

 mal in nature, Hmiting ourfelves to thofe already 

 known, that can exifl without the benefit of 

 air ( I ). 



H 3 CHAP. 



( i) There are numerous accounts, unqueftionably very 

 fingular, of animals found alive in folid malfes ; and fe- 

 veral intelligent and reputable pdrforis have gone fo far as 

 to affirm that they have feen them. It is very difficult to 

 conceive how an animal formed for breathing can live 

 deprived of air : but it feems little lefs difficult to rejed the 

 teftimony of the mod creditable men Every day» we dif- 

 cover new fmgularities, which would be abfolutely incre- 

 dible without authentic information. This is a fact in 

 AVhich more than ufual evidence is required ; for without 

 that, nay, without ocular demonftraiion, we find it in- 

 comprehenfible. Yet 1 can never underftand why the toad- 

 is almoft always felefled for thefe wonderful prefcrvations, 

 and feldom any other animal. There is an extraift from a; 

 late Memoir on the fubjedl by Murhard, P kilofophical Ms^ 

 gazine, vol. 3.— T=! 



