TENDONS COMPARED WITH CORDAGE 71 



cing, whipping, mailing, etc., which are a few of 

 the many curious contrivances for joining the 

 ends of ropes, and for strengthening them by 

 filling up the interstices to preserve them from 

 being cut or frayed. As these methods of spli- 

 cing and plaiting in the subdivisions of the rope 

 make an intertexture stronger than the original 

 rope, it is an additional demonstration, if any 

 were wanted, to show the perfection of the cord- 

 age of an animal machine, since the tendons are 

 so interwoven ; and until the yarns of one strand 

 be separated and interwoven with the yarns of 

 another strand, and this done with regular ex- 

 change, the most approved patent ropes must be 

 inferior to the corresponding part of the animal 

 machinery. 



A piece of cord of a new patent has been 

 shown to us, which is said to be many times 

 stronger than any other cord of the same diame- 

 ter. It is so far upon the principle here stated, 

 that the strands are plaited instead of being 

 twisted ; but the tendon has still its superiority, 

 for the lesser yarns of each strand in it are inter- 

 woven with those of other strands. It, however, 

 gratifies us to see, that the principle we draw from 

 the animal body is here confirmed. It may be 

 asked, do not the tendons of the human body 

 sometimes break ? They do ; but in circum- 

 stances which only add to the interest of the sub- 



