238 REFLECTIONS ON 



or other animalcules which appear in corrupted 

 cheefe. In another place, he tells us that thefe 

 teeth-animals proceed from the ciftern-water 

 which we drink, becaufe he obferved fimilar a- 

 nimals in rain-water, efpecially when it had ftag- 

 nated upon leaden roofs. But, when we give 

 the hiftory of microfcopic animals, we fhall de- 

 monftrate, that mofl of thofe found in rain-water 

 are only organic moving particles, which divide, 

 unite, change their fize and figure, and, in a 

 woid, which can be made to move or to reft, to 

 live or die, as often as we pleafe. 



Moft feminal fluids fpontaneoufly dilute, or 

 become more liquid, when expofed to the air or 

 to a certain degree of cold, than when they ifTue 

 from the body. But they thicken upon the ap- 

 plication of a moderate degree of heat. I expo- 

 fed fome of thefe fluids to a degree of cold equal 

 to that of water juft beginning to freeze ; but the 

 pretended animalcules fuffered not the leaft in- 

 jury from it. They moved with equal adivity, 

 and during the fame length of time, as thofe to 

 which no cold had been applied. But thofe which 

 were expofed to a fmall degree of heat, fooa 

 ceafed to move, becaufe the liquor thickened. 

 If thefe moving bodies were animals, they dif- 

 fered in their nature andconftitution from all 0- 

 thers, to which a moderate degree of heat com- 

 municates force and motion, and upon whofe 

 bodies cold has the very oppofite effeds. 



Before 



