LECTURE Xn. 
.215 
and regular structure of their bodies, and their 
whole appearance, form the most convincing 
proofs of their real animal nature and life. 
Animalcules, as I before observed, are most 
frequently found in fluids; but this is a doctrine 
that has not always been clearly understood, and 
has been productive of some erroneous ideas in 
natural history. Some writers, for instance, have 
asserted that almost every kind of fluid abounded 
with animalcules; and that wines, and spirits, ex- 
hibited legions of them. This, however, is so very 
far from the truth, that none are ever to be dis- 
covered in inflammable spirits, or in any fermented 
liquor that has not passed either into the state of 
vinegar, or that is not grown completely vapid. 
As almost all extraordinary discoveries are, liable, 
when related by unskilful persons, to have their 
circumstances exaggerated by additional orna- 
ments, we need not be surprized that this has 
been tlie case relative to the History of Microsco- 
pic Animalcules. No sooner did the microsco- 
pical observations of Leewenhoeck and a few 
others become pretty generally known, than im- 
mediately, as if by a kind of fatality, the animal- 
cular doctrine was carried a great deal too far; 
