ANIMALCULE

ANIMALCULE, Animalculum, is a Diminutive of Animal; and expresses such a minute Creature as is scarce discernible by the naked Eye.
Such are those numerous Insects which crowd the Water in the Summer Months; changing it sometimes of a deep, or pale red, sometimes a yellow, etc.
They seem to be of the Shrimp kind, called by Swammerdam, Pulex Aquaticus arborescens.
The cause of their Concourse at this time, Mr. Derham observes, is to perform their Coitus. He adds, that they afford a comfortable Food to many Water Animals. The green Scum on the top of stagnant Waters is nothing else but prodigious Numbers of another smaller Order of Animalcules; which, in all probability, serve for Food to the Pulices Aquatici. The Microscope discovers Legions of Animalcules in most Liquors, as Water, Wine, Brandy, Vinegar, Beer, Spittle, Urine, Dew, etc.



In the Philosophical Transactions, we have Observations of the Animalcules in Rain-Water, in seven Chalybeate Waters, Infusions of Pepper, Bay-berries, Oats, Barley, Wheat, etc. See MICROSCOPE. The human Seed has been observed by various Authors to contain huge Numbers of Animalcules; which gave occasion to the System of Generation ad animalculum. See SEED and GENERATION.

ANIMALCULE