z82 ANIMALCULA OF INFUSIONS. I; 



exclude them from the rank of animals from too 

 great fimplicity in llrudure or operations, than 

 his inability to conceive how an organifed being 

 reproducing by divifion can have a foul. 



That beings fimply animated, or animals whofc 

 life confifls only in irritability of the part?, arc 

 poffible, I can eafily believe j efpecially when 

 fpeaking of thofe whofe adions are few and little 

 varied, and that by this hypothecs the gradations 

 of organifed beings is better united by connec- 

 ting the animal and vegetable kingdoms by means 

 of fuch fimply vital or irritable beings, inferior 

 to an animal, and fuperior to a plant. That it is 

 pofTible infufion animalcula may be of the num- 

 ber, I offer nothing againfl ; nor will any thing 

 In the leaft difadvantageous to it be feen in what 

 has yet been faid in this Trad. Earnell, how- 

 ever, to reduce poffibilities to fads, i am much 

 more inclined to judge them real and adual ani* 

 mals than beings fim.ply vital or irritable. There is 

 foundation for my opinion, becaufe an aflemblage 

 of qualities is recognifed in them fufficient to con- 

 llitute the qualities of abfolute animaiity, I have 

 had occafion to remark fome of thefe qualities in 

 my Diifertation, fuch as the exertions of animal- 

 cula 



2hong zoophytes. If our microfcopes could difcover ihzh 

 internal ftrudture, it is moft probable that many would bs 

 removed far from both.-=*T» 



