522 Microscopical Essays. 



an account thereof was written to Mr. Needham, who having, 

 by trials of his own, found out the caufe of this bad fuccefs, ad- 

 vifed him to deep the grains before he attempted to open them ; 

 on doing which, he was very foon convinced of his veracity, 

 and entertained with the pleafmg fight of this wonderful phe- 

 nomenon. At different times after this, Mr. Baker made ex- 

 periments with grains of the fame parcel, without being once 

 difappointed. He foaked a couple of grains in water for the 

 fpace of thirty-fix hours, when believing them fufficiently 

 moiCened, he cut one open, and applying fome of the fibrous 

 fubftanceto the microfcope in a drop of water, it feparated im- 

 mediately, and prefented multitudes of the anguillse, without the 

 lead motion or fign of life ; but being taught by experience that 

 they might notwithftanding poflibly revive, he left them for about 

 four hours, and then examining them again, found much the 

 greater!; number moving their extremities pretty brifldy, and in 

 an hour or two after they appeared as lively as thefe creatures 

 ufually are. Mr. Folkes, and fome other friends, were witneffes - 

 of this experiment. We find an in (lance here that life may be 

 fufpended, and feemingly deflroyed ; that by an exhalation of 

 the fluids neceiTary to a living animal, the circulations may 

 ceafe, all the organs and veffels of the body may be fhrunk up, 

 dried, and hardened ; and yet, after a long while, life may begin 

 anew to acluate the fame body, and all the animal motions and, 

 faculties may be reftored, merely by repleniming the organs and 

 vefieis with a freih fupply of fluid. Here is a proof that the anf- 

 malcula in the grains of blighted wheat can endure having their;* 

 bodies quite dried up for the fpace of four years together, without 

 being thereby deprived of their living power, 



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