Wrote Letter 22 of 1677-11-09 (AB 35) to William Brouncker

Date:

November 9, 1677

Standard reference information

Cole's number:

AB/CL number:

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Text of the letter in the original Dutch and in English translation from Alle de Brieven. The Collected Letters at the DBNL - De Digitale Bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse Letteren

Leeuwenhoek wrote this letter, sent in Latin translation, to William Brouncker about sperm in human semen. It is the first detailed description, but indicates no understanding of its function. In it, Leeuwenhoek mentions the role of both Theordore Craanen and Johan Ham.

Twenty years later, he quoted an excerpt from this letter in Dutch when he wrote to Harman van Zoelen to defend himself against Nicholas Hartsoeker.

Response to other researchers

In this letter, Leeuwenhoek mentions that Henry Oldenburg had first requested that Leeuwenhoek examine seminal fluid.

I remember that some three or four years ago I examined seminal fluid at the request of the late Mr. Odenburg.

On seeing these oily globules, I conceived that the vessels
might perhaps serve for the conveyance of the animal spirits.

he examine saliva, chyle, sweat,

Publication history

Related sources, especially Philosophical Transactions, and first editions only of Leeuwenhoek's volumes of letters. For later editions see Related events under Learn more.

Year	Author	Title
1665	various	Philosophical Transactions
1678	Leeuwenhoek, A. van	Observationes D. Anthonii Lewenhoeck, De Natis E Semine Genitali Animalculis
1715	Clerc, D. Le	Historia naturalis et medica latorum lumbricorum
1754 - 1787	Berryat, J. (ed.)	Collection académique
1779 - 1780	Leske, N. G.	Abhandlungen zur Naturgeschichte, Physik und Oekonomie
1941	Leeuwenhoek, A. van	Alle de Brieven. The Collected Letters. Volume 2