Microscopical experiments with blood and milk
Date
1 June 1674
Creator
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632 - 1723, Dutch) , Naturalist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p1
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 318mm
width (page): 208mm
width (page): 208mm
Subject
Description
Figure in a letter from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to Henry Oldenburg.
Van Leeuwenhoek describes how he made various glass pipes, hollow from the inside. Cutting himself on his finger, he was able to capture some blood inside the glass pipes. He breaks a little part of the glass off (like C or D) and attaches that to his microscope so that he can investigate the blood. The narrower the glass pipe, the better he is able to distinguish the little particles in the blood.
He writes that he made the glass pipes himself ('Ick heb mijn selven bereijt verscheijde soorte van glase pijpjens').
Van Leeuwenhoek describes how he made various glass pipes, hollow from the inside. Cutting himself on his finger, he was able to capture some blood inside the glass pipes. He breaks a little part of the glass off (like C or D) and attaches that to his microscope so that he can investigate the blood. The narrower the glass pipe, the better he is able to distinguish the little particles in the blood.
He writes that he made the glass pipes himself ('Ick heb mijn selven bereijt verscheijde soorte van glase pijpjens').
Object history
A. Leeuwenhoek, 'Microscopical observations from Leeuwenhoeck, concerning blood, milk, bones, the brain, spitle, and cuticula, &c.', Phil. Trans. vol. 9, no. 106 (September 1674), pp. 121-28. With six figures, the last two going with the letter of 6 July 1674, printed in the same issue at pp. 128-31. (Part of the letter in English.)
Related fellows
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632 - 1723, Dutch) , Naturalist
Henry Oldenburg (1612 - 1677, German) , Scientific correspondent
Henry Oldenburg (1612 - 1677, German) , Scientific correspondent
Associated place