German textbook of N. Leske, 8 it played an important role 

 in the spread of natural-scientific knowledge in Russia. 

 In the second section of this book, which was devoted to 

 the general properties of organized ("constructed") bodies, 

 Leske, and following him, Ozeretskovskii, discussed three 

 methods of multiplication (and development) of living 

 creatures — "accidental (spontaneous — L. B.) birth," gradual 

 formation (Wolff's theory of epigenesis and Buffon's theory 

 of panspermia) and unfolding, and the theory of evolution of 

 Haller, Leeuwenhoek and others. In this manual not a single 

 one of these presentations about the multiplication or 

 reproduction and development ("generation") of living 

 creatures is considered "universal," but the most widespread 

 idea in the organic world is considered by the authors to 

 be that of gradual formation, i.e. epigenesis (S 33 - 42). 



Great interest is due to the famous Russian obstetrician 

 N. M. Maksimovich-Ambodik's book (35), PHYSIOLOGY OR THE 

 NATURAL HISTORY OF MAN, which was printed in 1787. 9 

 Even as a popular work geared to the young reader, this 

 presentation is entirely scientific. Embryological questions 

 are discussed in Chapter II ("About the Rudiments of the 

 Infant") and in Chapter III ("About Pregnancy"). 



Noticing that the process of conception has appeared 

 unclear to many, and refusing to discuss the "many diverse 

 theories," Ambodik gave the following: "The opinion of the 

 majority of scientists about human conception is closer to 

 the truth." 



8. Nathanael Gottfried Leske, ANFANSGRUNDE DER 

 NATURGESCHICHTE. ZWOTE VERBESSERTE UND VIEL 

 VERMEHRTE AUSGABE (Leipzig, 1784). 



9. PHYSIOLOGY OR THE NATURAL HISTORY OF MAN CONCERN- 

 ING HIS CONCEPTION, BIRTH NATURE, STRUCTURE OF 

 THE BODY AT DIFFERENT AGES, ACTS OF LIFE, THE 

 DIFFERENCE IN THE HUMAN GENUS, DISEASES, AGEING 

 OR GETTING OLD, AND DEATH. FOR THE SAKE OF 

 RUSSIAN YOUTH. By the efforts and independence of 

 Nestor Mak simovich- Ambodik , Doctor of medicine and professor, 

 in his first publication. With typography by the Naval 

 Gentry Military School. In the city of St. Peter, 1787, 

 CLII pp. 



127 



