Particles and organisms found in vinegar and wine, as viewed under a microscope. Etching by I. Basire, 1743.

Under the heading of "Acetum", James makes the following remark with regard to vinegar: "This fluid so commonly known has in all Ages been esteemed of great importance both in Physic and Surgery." One of his various experiments with vinegar was to leave a glass of it "in his parlour for eight weeks". After this time he observed samples of the vinegar with the aid of a microscope. He describes his observation and the depiction of the organism depicted at the top left of the plate as: "...a little Eel, alive and full-grown, Figure LM; and another dead, at is full growth, which I killed that the Painter might better distinguish it, as you see in Fig. NO". He likewise recorded his observations of samples of wine, viewed with a microscope in his entry on "Vinum". With regard to figs S-Z, James remarks: "As all these Figures, in infinite numbers were promiscuously swimming about in one small Drop of wine, it was extremely pleasing to view so great a variety of such elegant figures perpetually traversing one among another, and wandering about the wine."