The Subject Nature

Abstract

The year 1675 when Anthony Van Leeuwenhoek first discovered numerous “animalcules” in a drop of rain water can be considered the birth date of research in protozoology. After Huygens made similar observations in 1678, a period of lively discovery began which continued throughout the 18th century and resulted in the description of many species, some of which can still be recognized today. In 1765, Wrisberg coined the term “Infusoria” for all organisms found in a variety of infusions of vegetable matter.