[ 557 ] 
undergone the fmallefi change ; which confirms 
what the ingenious DoCtor Pringle has obferved, that 
it is antifeptic j and adds weight to the obfervation, 
which I made above, that the appearance of fuch ani- 
malcules denotes a tendency to putrefaction. Hence 
I am of opinion, that fuch microfcopical obfervations 
made with care and accuracy, might be ufefully ap- 
plied in the inveftigation of the feptic and antifeptic 
qualities of animal and vegetable fubftances, fince in 
this w r ay the fil'd; motion of putrefaction may be dis- 
covered before it manifefts itfelf otherwife. 
As every one would with, if poffible, to render 
his ftudies or obfervations (however philofophical, or 
otherwife agreeable they may be) in fome fhape fub- 
fervient to the good of mankind,, here feems to be 
pointed out a new and interefting field of enquiry for 
t'hofe, who delight in microfcopical refearches. 
Before I conclude, I muft beg leave to fubjoin a 
few remarks concerning exaltation, which feem to 
deferve attention. 
All exaltation appears to be a certain modification 
of the falts and oils of bodies : a proper degree of it 
favours growth and vegetation, and fuftains animal 
life : a greater degree of it, which I would call the 
putrefactive exaltation, and to which all organized 
bodies tend more or lefs, decompofes all fuch bo- 
dies, and favours the production of microfcopical 
animalcules, or the developement of the ova, from 
whence they may be hatched. A f ill higher de- 
gree of exaltation puts a fiop to this procefs, as like- 
wife to vegetation, and in certain circum fiances even 
to animal life, as happens with regard to all acrid 
Vol. 45). 4.B chemical 
