[M] 
If the feveral rounds of this thread, as it falls on 
the reel, touch one another in their whole extent, it 
is then fo 2. lued together, as to be intirely ufelefs for 
any perfection of manufacture, it being impoffible 
to wind it off without tearing and breaking! This 
fault in the filk countries goes under the technical 
name of the Vitrage ; and there are many degrees of 
it, according to the caule by which it is produced. 
From the introduction of filk into Europe to this 
day, the preventing of the Vitrage has employed 
fome of the moft knowing men in the countries 
where filk is produced. 
To change the pofition of the filk thread, that it 
might not always fall on the fame part of the reel, 
the guidefiick was introduced. This received a 
progreffive and regreffive motion, by means of two 
wheels, the one fixed to the axle of the reel, and 
communicating its motion to the other by means of 
a band. To make thefe wheels perfect, certain deter- 
mined and precife proportions are to be obferved in 
the diameters of their grooves, otherways, notwith- 
flanding the motion of the guidefiick, there may be 
a total Vitrage of the whole hank of filk ; and, even 
when the proportion of the wheels is perfeCl, there 
may be reckoned up thirteen or fourteen accidents, 
any of which happening will caufe a Vitrage : but 
tho’ thefe inconveniencies attend all thofe reels which 
ufe a band, yet, becaufe the ordinary fort of them 
are eafily made, they are flill ufed by the common 
people in mofl filk countries. 
No nation has brought its filk to a greater perfec- 
tion than the Piedmontefe : but it was only by flow 
degrees, and in a long traCl of time, that they ar- 
rived 
