I, ANIMALCULA OF INFUSIONS. 229 



X. If the conjeftures I have ah'eady hazard- 

 ed have any probability, it ought to appear more 

 furprifing, that feeds fupport the heat of fand at 

 385 and 212°, without lofmg the germinating 

 power, than that the germs of animalcula may 

 P 3 expand 



^ favie fituatkn, I only relateJ a fai51, whicli may be ac- 

 ^ counted for without recurring to the difference between 



* animals and vegetables. The continued adion of heat 



* obftruds the expanfion of vegetable feeds and infuiion. 



* animalcula. This my experiments have proved. But 

 •* if it Ihall happen, that after a certain pei iod the infufion^ 



* are full of animalcula, it is evident they do not owe 



* their exiftence to germs, which have been expofed to 



* heat, but to fome precipitated into the infufion after it 



* has cooled. Therefore animalcula are produced by ncv/ 



* germs : but feeds not having the fame advantage, it is 

 -* no wonder that thofe which have fuiFered the adioa of 



* heat do not germinate. Were they fufpendcd in the air, 

 « as animalcular germs probably are, plants would un- 



* doubtedly be produced as well as animalcula. ' 



M. I3onnet is now of my opinion. " I fubfcribe," he 

 replies, " to your reflcftions on the difference between 

 « vegetable feeds and animalcula which Irave been expofed 

 ^* to boiling heat. You have truly good reafon to fay^ 

 " the higher clafs of animalcula, which are produced ai- 

 ^^ ter boiling the infufions, do not come from germi 

 " which uave endured fuch violent heat, but from thofe 

 ** that have fallen from the air after the infufion \i-i<^ 

 ^ coole4" 



