§^2 SEMINAL VERMICUL-T. It." 



on opening the feminal veffels, we find mixed 

 with the folid. There he would have found a- 

 bundance of vermiculi, though at that time 

 they could not be produced by the folid femen 

 diffolving, fince this folid part only begins to 

 difTolve after it proceeds from the animal, and 

 experiences the influence of the air. 



What has already been faid, and what I fhall 

 continue to fay, proves the falfity of Needham's 

 opinion, who aflfures us the vermiculi are pro- 

 duced fome minutes after the femen comes from 

 the animal, that is, after it begins to be altered 

 and decompofed hf the air. Refpecting the hu- 

 man femen, it is neceifary to confider whether 

 the portion is folid or fluid. If the former, when 

 completely deprived of the fpermatic fluid, no 

 vermiculi are feen, although it remains during 

 fome time expofed to the air, and though it 

 changes and is decompofed. If the latter, ver- 

 miculi appear in it before the time required for 

 this alteration. It has often happened, that the 

 tim€ confumed in taking the fluid matter frora 

 the veflels, fl:ill warm, did not exceed a fecond, 

 yet I found the fame number of vermiculi as 

 afterwards, even w^hen the fluid had been long: 

 enough expofed to the air to effedt its decompofi- 

 tion. 



My obfervations, on the femen of other ani- 

 mals, further convinces me of the falfity of fuch 



an 



