(k ANiMALCULA OIF INFUSlONS. I83 



cula to avoid each other and the obftacles to 

 their courfe ; fuddenly changing their direction, 

 taking an oppofite one ; and pafling inftantane- 

 oufly from reft to motion, without any external 

 impulfe J eagerly darting to particles of the in- 

 fufed fubftances 5 inceffantly revolving on them- 

 felves, without a change of place, their courfe 

 againft the current, and crowding into fhallow 

 parts of the fluid ( i ). Neither have other cha- 



raderiftics, 



(i) M. Guettard, in a work which, from the prodigious 

 multiplicity and variety of matter, might be called a trea- 

 tife </? omnibus rebus et quibufdam a/iis, is convinced that in- 

 fufion animalcula are only the farinaceous veficles of feeds 

 put in motion by external caufes : and with this convicr 

 tion does he judge it proper to difcufs the qualities I men- 

 tion ; all which he efteems infutficient to prove the ani- 

 mation of animalcula. To adopt his mode of reafoning, 

 it would be a matter of very great doubt whether horfes 

 or elephants were real animals, though poflefling the fame 

 qualities. But the moft wonderful circumftance is, that 

 the author is perfedly innocent of all thefe matters ; and 

 evidently fhows that he has never feen a fingle infufion 

 animalcule in his life. It would be lofmg time to demon- 

 ilrate the frivolity of his arguments, fit for the ignorant 

 only. The reader may confult the author himfelf ; and 

 that he may not think me exaggerating, he is referred to 

 MuUer, who, without the lead conneiftion with me, either by 

 friendlhip or literary intercourfe, undertakes my defence* 



M4 ox 



