Microscopical Essays, i^t 



To procure the eels in pafte, boil a little flour and water, till 

 it comes to the confiftence of fuch a pafte as is ufed by the book- 

 binders ; expofe it to the air in an open veflel, and beat it toge- 

 ther from time to time, to prevent the furface thereof growing 

 hard or mouldy : after a few days it will turn four ; then, if it be 

 examined with attention, you will find myriads of eels on the 

 furface . 



To preferve thefe eels all the year, you muft keep the furface 

 of the pafte moift, by putting a little water or frefh pafte from 

 time to time to the other. Mr. Baker advifes a drop or two of 

 vinegar to be put into the pafte now and then. The continual 

 motion of the eels, while the furface is moift, will prevent the 

 pafte getting mouldy. Apply them to the microfcope upon a 

 flip of flat glafs, firft putting on it a drop of water, taken up 

 by the head of a pin, for them to fwim iru 



To make an infufion of pepper. Bruife as much common 

 black pepper as will co ver the bottom of an open jar, and lay it 

 thereon about half an inch thick ; pour as much foft water in the 

 veflel as will rife about an inch above the pepper. The pepper 

 and water are then to be well (hook together ; after which they 

 muft not be ftirred, but be left expofed to the air for a few days, 

 when a thin pelicule will be formed on the furface of the water, 

 containing millions of animalcula. 



The obferver mould be careful not to form a judgment of the 

 nature, the ufe, and the operations of fmall animalcula, from 

 ideas which he has acquired by confidering the properties of larger 

 animals for, by the affiftance of glafles, we are introduced as' it 



were 



