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thereby to (lop the Progrefs of the Mortification. 
But this was of no manner of Service that I could 
perceive: The Diftemper Bill gained Ground j and 
as it increafed, a fine fibrillous Subfiance grew out 
from it, and appeared like what the Picture fhews at 
Fig. 3- in Tab. 
Thcfe Fibrils, when examined by the Microfcope, 
fhew themfelves to be a Number of minute Tubes, 
filled with a brownifh Liquor; and this Liquor, up- 
on prefling them, becomes immediately difeharged. 
A fmall Piece of this Fifh, with the Fibrils grow- 
ing out of it, as feen by the fourth Magnifier of 
Mr. Cuff's double Microfcope, is fhewn at Fig. 4. 
When firft I perceived this fibrous Subftance in- 
veloping the Fifh’s Tail, I fuppofed it to be nothing 
but a Mouldinefs, of that kind which frequently is 
feen upon decayed Flcfh and Fifh ; but, upon Trial, 
I found it to be of a much ftronger Texture and 
Confidence than fuch Mouldinefs is ever known to 
have; for, notwithftanding I have feveral times let 
a full Stream of Water run upon it from a Cock, I 
could never wafh it off. 
This Fifh lived with me till the latter End of 
March , and then died ; having for many Days be- 
fore its Death lain at the Bottom of the Jar, with- 
out being able to rife. 
As the Mortification advanced, and came nearer 
to its Inteftines, the Quickncfs of its taking Water 
in at the Mouth increafed, till at laft it took it in 
three times fafter than a lively ftrong Fifh did. 
On my cutting off Part of the Fifh’s Tail, in 
hopes of flopping the Mortification, the Equilibrium 
of the Body was fo far loft, that it hung in the 
Water moft commonly with the Fiead downwards. 
