68 ^he Art of Fahriery 



they v/ill again reflore themfelves to their proper 

 . Dimenfions. It is further alfo manifeft, that this 

 Property is preferved to them by a convenient 

 Moiflure, becaufe if one of thefe Threads lie dried, 

 it immediately lofes it j fo that upon the Applica- 

 tion of any Force to ftrctch it, it will "break ; as 

 alfo will its lying foaked in Liquor too much ren- 

 der it flaccid or flabby, and deftroy all its Power of 

 Reftitution when diftcnded. 



Now fome Hints of that Configuration of Parts, 

 upon which this Property depends, may be had 

 from the Contrivance and Properties of a Syringe or 

 Squirt, with the Reafons why it is fo difficult to 

 araw back the Embolus or Piilon, when the Cy- 

 linder or Pipe in which it plays is flopped ; and 

 the Necefiity of any Liquor's following it, wherein 

 the Pipe is immerfed or dipt. 



All that is necefiary to this Contrivance is, that 

 the Embolus be fo exadly adapted or fit to the 

 inner Surface of the Barrel, as to prevent any Air 

 pafilng between them when it is drawn up ; that it 

 matters not what Figure the Banel is of, fo that 

 the Embolus is well fitted to it ; and it might eafily 

 be contrived to make a Cafe of Syringes, wherein 

 every Barrel may alfo ferve as an Embolus to its 

 Exterior, which immediately includes it : And in 

 this Manner, it is not at all difficult to imagine a 

 continued Series of Particles fo put together, that 

 the inner may be moved and drawn upon one ano- 

 ther, without fuffering the Air immediately to en- 

 ter into the Interftices or Divifions, made by their 

 Diftradlion or being ftretched : Whereupon, as 

 foon as that Force which drew them is removed, 

 they will, for the very fame Reafon as the Embo- 

 lus of a Syringe, rufli up again into their farmer 

 All the Fi- Contafts. 



brcs of a I could farther illuftrate this Theory by demon- 

 living fl:rating, that all the Fibres in a living Body are in 

 in a State ^ ^^^'^ ^^ Diftraftion, that is, they are drawn out 

 of Diftrac- ^^^^ ^ greater Length than they would be in, if 

 tion, feparatcd 



