for thefe Atoms avoided no Obftacle, nor had any 
other Chara&eriftic of Spontaneity. It was not from 
any Commotion in the Fluid, Fermentation or the 
flying off of volatile Parts 5 becaufe a large Atom 
would frequently move and detach itfelf from 
a much lefs abfolutely quiefeent : They did not feem 
to be enafeent Embryo Animals, from a Depofition 
of any extraneous Spawn ; for the Phials had been 
clofed with Corks; nay they were the very Seed, 
or the Almond-Germ Particles thcmfclvcs. 
§ 20. Thefe lame Obfervations Mr. de Buffon 
made himfelf ; for we examin'd thefe Infuftons to- 
gether a fecond time at his own Houfe; and then it 
was that he order'd fifteen Seed Infufions to be made 
up, which we continued regularly to examine twice 
a Week, till I propofed to him to take them home, 
and follow them more clofely by a daily or hourly 
Infpe&ion, if neceflary. The Refult of our firft 
Obfervations was, that tho' the Phials had been 
clofe flopp'd, and all Communication with the ex- 
terior Air prevented, yet, in about fifteen Days 
Time, the Infufions fwarm’d with Clouds of moving 
Atoms, fo fmall, and fo prodigioufly active 5 that the? 
we made ufe of a Magnifier of not much above 
half a Line focal Diftance, yet I am perfuaded no- 
thing but their vaft Multitude render'd them vifible. 
It feem'd therefore as if the firft teeming languid 
Particles we had obferved, vaft in their Dimenfions, 
if compared with thole we now faw, had broke 
and divided into this immenfe Multitude of micro- 
fcopical active Atoms. Then it was that we began 
to lay down a Diftinttion between animated and 
mere oiganizd Bodies ; which, tho' far from being 
at 
