24 THE UNIVERSE. 



cations or the bending of the vessels, this circuit is only 

 four or five metres in length, even then the animalcules are 

 borne on a current which carries them daily three leagues, 

 a fearful journey for such frail organisms ! 



Man himself does not imagine that, despite his pride, a 

 race of invisible beings incessantly devours, and sometimes 

 ends by destroying him. Vibriones, resembling impercep- 

 tible tiny eels, are constantly discovered in his intestines. 

 His mouth is always inhabited by myriads of animalcules, 

 the microscopic sepulchre of which is represented by the 

 tartar that loosens our teeth ; for, in many cases, it is 

 formed of nothing else but the incrustations of their cal- 

 careous skeletons. 



10. Trichinae gnawing a Muscle, magnified 200 diameters. 



Intestinal worms, not larger than the head of a pin, gath- 

 ering in colonies in the head of the sheep, occasion cer- 

 tain death. They are the cause of that complaint known 

 in our country districts as staggers, or more generally as 



