ANIMALS. 361 



rishment, to complete its growth. The business 

 of generation was now, therefore, given back to 

 the male a second time by many ; while others 

 suspended their assent, and chose rather to con- 

 fess ignorance than to embrace error.* 



In this manner has the dispute continued for 

 several ages, some accidental discovery serving, 

 at intervals, to renew the debate, and revive cu- 

 riosity. It was a subject where speculation could 

 find much room to display itself; and M. Buffon, 

 who loved to speculate, would not omit such an 

 opportunity of giving scope to his propensity. 

 According to this most pleasing of all naturalists, 

 the microscope discovers that the seminal liquor, 

 not only of males, but of females also, abounds 

 in these moving little animals which have been 

 mentioned above, and that they appear equally 

 brisk in either fluid. These he takes not to be 

 real animals, but organical particles, which, be- 

 ing simple, cannot be said to be organized them- 

 selves, but go to the composition of all organiz- 

 ed bodies whatsoever : in the same manner as a 

 tooth, in the wheel of a watch, cannot be called 

 either the wheel, or the watch, and yet contri- 

 butes to the sum of the machine. These or- 

 ganical particles are, according to him, diffused 

 throughout all nature, and to be found not only 

 in the seminal liquor, but in most other fluids, 

 in the parts of vegetables, and all parts of ani- 

 mated nature. As they happen, therefore, to 

 be differently applied, they serve to constitute 



* Bonnet, Considerations sur les Corps Organises. 



