Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 014.djvu/175

Rh 2d. sort had the shape of B. these spun about like a Top, and took a Course sometimes on one side, as is shown at G. and D. they were more in number than the first. In the 3d. sort I could not well distinguish the Figure, for sometimes it seem'd to be an Oval, and other times a Circle. These were so small that they seem'd no bigger than E and therewithal so swift, that I can compare them to nothing better than a swarm of Flies or Gnats, flying and turning among one another in a small space. Of this sort I believe there might be many thousands in a quantity of water no bigger-than a sand, tho the flower were but the 9th. part of the water or spittle containing it.

Besides these Animals there were a great quantity of streaks or threds of different lengths, but like thickness, lying confusedly together, some bent, and others streight as at F. These had no motion or life in them, for I well observed them, having formerly seen live-Animals, in water of the same figure.

I observed the Spittle of two several women, whose Teeth were kept clean, and there were no Animals in the spittle; but the meal between the teeth, being mixt with water, (as before) I found the Animals above described, as also the long particles.

The Spittle of a Child of 8 years old had no living Creatures in it, but the meal between the Teeth, had a great many of the Animals above described, together with the streaks.

The Spittle of an old Man that had lived soberly, had no Animals in it; But the substance upon and between his Teeth, had a great many living Creatures, swimming nimbler then I had hitherto seen. The biggest sort were numerous, and as they moved, bent themselves like G. The other sorts of Animals were in great numbers, insomuch that tho the meal were little, yet the water it was mixt with seem'd to be all alive, there were also the long threads above mentioned. The