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I. A Letter from Mr Anthony van Leeuwenhoek, 
F.G^.S. Containing bis Ob f creations upon the Seminal 
Veffels , Mufcular Fibres , and Blood of If hales. 
Delft in Holland , March z. 1712. 
I Have formerly affirm’d, that the AnimalcuU in St mint 
Mafculino of a Horfe, and thofe of a Dog, are of 
one and the fame bignefs 5 at leift, that they appear’d 
fo to me thro’ the Microfcope. 
Since which time I have been very defirous to obferve 
the Semen Mafculinum of ar Whale, in order to difeover, 
if it were poffiblc, whether the Animalatlam thofe great 
Creatures did not proportionably exceed fuch as I have 
discover'd in fmaller Creatures. 
Having therefore made an Acquaintance with one 
lfaac van Krimpen , who had for many Years been con- 
cern’d in the Whale Fiftiery, as Commander of a Green- 
land Ships and he being an obferving Man, I intreated 
him that he would give me a piece of the Penis of a 
Whale, viz,, of the thickefi: part of it, where it was 
joyn’d to the Body, in hopes that I might (fill difeover 
fome of the Animalcula that were in the Vafa defe - 
rentia. 
The Captain accordingly help’d me to fuch a piece • 
but in the hanging it up, and Stretching and drying it, 
I believe the Semen Mafculinum was run out of ir, be- 
v caufe he had hung up and dry’d that Member, in order 
to get Train Oyl out of it. Having open’d the Vas de- 
mind e as well as I could, for it was very much dry'd up, 
and feraped off" a little of the Matter that was in it 
\ with 
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