OMNIPRESENCE OF LIFE .1289 



visible and invisible, it might seem as if the survey 

 were complete. And yet it is not so. Life cradles 

 within Life. The bodies of animals are little worlds, 

 having their own animals and plants. A celebrated 

 Frenchman has published a thick octavo volume 

 devoted to the classification and description of The 

 Plants which Grow on Men and Animals;* and 

 many Germans have described the immense variety 

 of animals which grow on and in men and animals ; 

 so that science can boast of a parasitic Flora and 

 Fauna. In the fluids and tissues, in the eye, in the 

 liver, in the stomach, in the brain, in the muscles, 

 parasites are found, and these parasites have often 

 their living parasites in them! 



We have thus taken a bird's-eye view of the field 

 in which we may labor. It is truly inexhaustible. 

 We may begin where we please, we shall never 

 come to an end; our curiosity will never slacken. 



"And whosoe'er in youth 

 Has through ambition of his soul given way 

 To such desires, and grasp'd at such delights, 

 Shall feel congenial stirrings late and long." 



As a beginning, get a microscope. If you can not 

 borrow, boldly buy one. Few purchases will yield 

 you so much pleasure; and, while you are about it, 

 do, if possible, get a good one. Spend as little 

 money as you can on accessory apparatus and ex- 

 pensive fittings, but get a good stand and good 

 glasses. Having got your instrument, bear in mind 

 these two important trifles work by daylight, sel- 



* Charles Robin: "Histoire Naturelle des Vegetaux Para- 

 sites qui croissent sur 1'Homme et sur les Animaux Vivants." 

 1853- 



