of our food, with that from the teeth of a viper or mad dog, which is only the same matter too much exalted, and corrupted to the last degree. When this organic and productive matter is found collected in a great quantity in some part of an animal, where it is obliged to remain, it forms living beings which have been ever regarded as animals; the tænia, ascarides, all the worms found in the veins, liver, in wounds, in corrupted flesh, and pus, have no other origin; the eels in paste, vinegar, and all the pretended microscopical animals are only different forms which this active matter takes of itself, according to circumstances, and which invariably tends to organization. In all animal and vegetable substances, decomposed by infusion, this productive matter manifests itself immediately under the form of vegetation. Filaments are seen to form, which grow and extend like plants. Afterwards these extremities and knots swell and burst, to give passage to a multitude of bodies in motion, which appear to be animals; so that it seems as if all nature began by a motion of vegetation. It is seen by microscopical objects, and likewise by the expansion or unfolding of the animal embryo; for the foetus at first has only a species of vegetable motion. Sound food does not furnish any of these moving molecules for a considerable time. Several days infusion in water is required for fresh meat, grain, kernels, &c. before they offer to our sight any moving bodies; but the more matters are corrupted, decomposed, or exalted, the more suddenly these moving bodies manifest themselves; they are all free from other matters in seminal liquors; but a few hours infusion is required to see them in pus, spurred barley, honey, drugs, &c.