26 THE UNIVERSE. 



Ehrenberg, on analyzing a shower of fine dust which, at 

 a distance of 380 miles from the coast of Africa, enveloped 

 vessels in a thick fog, found eighteen species of sihca-plated 

 animalcules. 



But microscopic Hfe does not invade only air, earth, and 

 water. It is met with again full of power and vitality in 

 the interior of animals and plants. No organ, however 

 vigorous or deeply protected, can elude it. Not only do 

 animalcules pour into every cavity of the animal which is 

 in communication with the outer world, but they are met 

 with in parts closely sealed. The vascular tree which dis- 

 tributes the blood through every part of the body, though 

 hermetically closed on every side, nevertheless at times 

 contains Microzoa mixed with the blood globules, ap- 

 parently living quite at their ease in the midst of the 

 incessant whirl of the circulation. Supposing that this 

 traverses its circuit every day more than 2800 times, and 

 that on account of the capillary ramification and the de- 

 flecting 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, 

 an invisible race incessantly devours, and sometimes finishes 

 by destroying him. Vibriones, real, imperceptible tiny 

 eels, are constantly discovered in his intestines. His mouth 

 is always inhabited by myriads of animalcules, the micro- 

 scopic sepulchre of which is represented by the tartar that 

 loosens our teeth ; for, in many cases, it is only formed of 

 incrustations of their calcareous skeletons. 



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

 gathering in colonies in the head of the sheep, occasion 

 certain death. They are the cause of that complaint 



