268 VARIETIES IN THE 



are farther removed from our obfervation, and 

 from tl e flrudure of other animals with which 

 we are already acquainted. 



For example, blighted corn, which is efFeded 

 by an alteration or refolution of the organic 

 fubftance of the grain, is compofed of multitudes 

 of fmall organized bodies refembling eels. When 

 infufed in water for ten or twelve hours, we 

 difcover them to have a diftindl wreathing, and 

 a fmall degree of progreffive motion. They 

 ceafe to move as foon as the water fails them ; 

 and their motion commences upon the addition 

 of frefli water. This alternate death and revivif- 

 cence may be repeated for months, and even for 

 years ; fo that thefe fmall machines may be made 

 to adt as long and as ofteu as we pleafe, without 

 deftroying or diminiftiing their force. They 

 are a fpecles of machines, which begin to a6t 

 whenever they are immerfed in a fluid. Thefe fi- 

 laments fometimes open like the filaments of the 

 femen, and produce moving globules : We 

 may, therefore, conclude them to be of the fame 

 nature, except that they are more fixed and 

 folid. 



The eels in pafte have no other origin than 

 the union of the organic particles of the mod 

 eflential parts of the grain. The firft eels which 

 appear are certainly pot produced by other eels ; 

 but, though they are not propagated themfelves, 

 they fail not to engender other living eels. By 

 cuttJLJv^ them with the point of a lancet, we (lif- 



cover 



