116 SMUT IN WHEAT. 



hue, without any perforations which can be difcovered by 



a high magnifying power. The whole of Ih^ir contents, in 



a recent ftate, are a blackifli foft fubftance with a few (l)ining 



fpecks, which difappear when dried. 



The duft of When kept fome time in a dry place, this foft fubflance is 



globules" ' ^° in the form of a fine duft or powder, of a dark brown colour 



when fpread oat on glafs or talc. The microfcope {hews 



each of ihefe minute particles to be well formed globules, 



fomewhat larger than the fanguineous. 



heavier than They are fpecifically heavier than water with which they 



^^'"° readily mix but foon fubfides, fufferirg no change by being 



kept in that fluid. In the beginning of September laft, I in- 



fufed fome of the powder in water in a watch-giafs. A few 



hours after I difcovered by the microfcope, in a drop of the 



in which they fj^jj ^ few animalculas. Upon examination next day every 



produce animalr , #■ . , i- • i ■ i ■ • i . 



^ulj5 drop of the liquor contauied innumerable animalculse, 



generally very minute but fome a fize larger. After flanding 

 expofed fome days, tlie water evaporated, and an hour or 

 two after the addition of fretli water every part fwarmed with 

 animaku'as, moving nimbly in all directions. While viewing 

 them in the microfcope ihey fuddenly became motionlefs 

 owing to the evaporation of the drop of liquid ; on adding 

 a drop of freQi water, they inftantly revived and began the 

 which are not fame lively motion. A quantity of fait fufficient to faturate 

 killed by fail: ^j^^ ^^{^.^ was then added to the mixture. Upon examination 

 about twenty hours afterwards, I was much furprized to find 

 the animalculae as numerous and lively as before the addition 

 of the fait. 



The watch glafs with its contents, afier ftanding neglcded, 

 on a Hielf expofed to the effluvia of a variety of drugs, till 

 the latter end of November, was again filled with water, 

 and placed near a fire, placing at the fame time by it a 

 fimilar glafs, containing fmut powder and freth water. They 

 were both fre(«}uently examined for fome days, but without 

 difcovering any animalcula;. My attention being called off 

 by other avocations they remained unnoticed about eight 

 days. The glafs which contained the infufion with fimple 

 waller was quite dry, and only a fmall quantity of fluid re- 

 mained in the other. A drop being examined in the micro- 

 fcope by a fingle lens of a high magnifying power, was found 



te> 



