Feather and plant anatomy by van Leeuwenhoek, described in a letter of 1692. Drawn here are bird feathers (far left), pine wood (centre left), parts of a bulrush plant (centre), lime wood (upper right), and the stone of a medlar tree (bottom right). Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) built his own microscopes and was able to study the natural world in greater detail than was previously possible. His observations included protozoa, bacteria, insects, plants, minerals, blood cells, and sperm. His earliest observations were published in 1673, and over the next 50 years he self-published and wrote hundreds of letters to scientists and learned societies detailing his discoveries. This page is from Letter 74 to the Royal Society (written 12 August 1692) and later published in 'Derde Vervolg' (1693). |