th SEMINAL VERMICULL 279 



Nearly this opinion is adopted by the celebrat- 

 ed Linnasus. He thinks the vermiculi are only 

 inert molecules fwimming like oil in the feminal 

 fluid, moving and darting in various diredlions, 

 as they are afFeded or heated by the temperatare 

 of the femen. 



MelT. Needham and de Buffoa, as is well 

 known, have publifhed their fentiments concern- 

 ing thefe difputed microfcopic beings ; and ap- 

 pear to have beheld them as fuited their refpec- 

 tive theories beft. The former thinks they ori- 

 ginate from the vegetative power ading on the 

 feminal fluid after it comes from the body of the 

 animal, by which it is neceffitated to vegetate, 

 expand, put itfelf in motion, and change into 

 beings not yet animated hutfanply mtaL M. de 

 Buffon, ever prejudiced for his favourite organk 

 molecules^ fuppofes he finds them in the vermi- 

 culi, and, from a long detail of experiments and 

 obfervations, endeavours to eftablifli his ov/n the- 

 ory on the ruins of Leeuwenhoeck's. 



Who could imagine that fo many difputes, 

 and fuch oppofition of lentiment, would arife on a 

 matter of fad: ? I confefs it has fingularly fur- 

 prifed me : and I have often thought that the 

 diverfity of opinion originated lefs from eilential 

 difficulties than the fault of obfervers ; who had 

 not the proper methods of examination ; who 

 were prejudiced in favour of fome theory, and 

 S 4 mav!<" 



