OBSERVAT. XVIII. Pond. Mites.
THere are bred in most restagnant Waters, Pools and Fishponds, in June and July, an innumerable compa∣ny
Experimental philosophy, in three books containing new experiments microscopical, mercurial, magnetical : with some deductions, and probable hypotheses, raised from them, in avouchment and illustration of the now famous atomical hypothesis / by Henry Power ...
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- Experimental philosophy, in three books containing new experiments microscopical, mercurial, magnetical : with some deductions, and probable hypotheses, raised from them, in avouchment and illustration of the now famous atomical hypothesis / by Henry Power ...
- Author
- Power, Henry, 1623-1668.
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- London :: Printed by T. Roycroft, for John Martin and James Allestry ...,
- 1664.
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- Subject terms
- Science -- Early works to 1800.
- Physics -- Early works to 1800.
- Microscopy -- Early works to 1800.
- Microscopes -- Early works to 1800.
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http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A55584.0001.001
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"Experimental philosophy, in three books containing new experiments microscopical, mercurial, magnetical : with some deductions, and probable hypotheses, raised from them, in avouchment and illustration of the now famous atomical hypothesis / by Henry Power ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A55584.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 25, 2025.
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Page 21
of little whitish Animals, which move up and down the water with jerks and stops in their motion; in which Animals we could discover two little horns and leggs, but could never get to see it quick in the Microscope: for as soon as ever it is taken out of the water, it is perfectly dead. Neither may it seem strange to find these Ani∣mals in restagnant fish-waters, since the very Ocean it self in some places (in summer time) is full of Living creatures. For our western Navigators tell us, That in summer, in the West-Indian Seas (about the Coasts of Virginia, Hispaniola, Jaimaca, Cuba, &c. the Sea swarms with Maggots and Grubs, which in a little time will so eat their very ships (as far as they draw water) that lye there at Anchor, that they will be as brittle and as full of holes as a honey-comb, or a grater; insomuch that we are forced to have them cased either with thin sheets of Lead, or with Flax, Pitch and Tarr, to secure them from that danger.
Nay, not onely the Water, but the very Air it self, may certainly at some times and seasons be full of Living creatures; which must be, most probably, when great pu∣trefactions reign therein, as in the Plague-time especi∣ally.
Now it were well worth the Observation, if in such aerial Putrefactions any kind of Living creatures could be discovered, which probably may be done by Glasses: for I am sure in my long Telescope I can some days see a tremulous Motion and Agitation of rowling fumes, and strong Atoms in the air, which I cannot see of other days; of which I shall perchance more largely discourse in my Telescopical Observations.