OF THE MUSCLES. 
89 
shown to consist of cellular membrane, the common tissue that 
gives firmness to all the textures of the animal body. The pecu¬ 
liarity here results merely from its remarkable condensation. But 
the cords of which the larger tendons consists, do not lie parallel 
to each other, nor are they simply twisted like the strands of a 
rope; they are, on the contrary, plaited or interwoven together. 
If the strong tendon of the heel, or Achilles tendon, be taken as 
an example, on first inspection, it appears to consist of parallel 
fibres, but by maceration, these fibres are found to be a web of 
twisted cellular texture. If you take your handkerchief, and, 
slightly twisting it, draw it out like a rope, it will seem to consist 
of parallel cords; such is, in fact, so far the structure of a tendon. 
But, as we have stated, there is something more admirable than 
this, for the tendon consists of subdivisions,which are like the strands 
of a rope; but instead of being twisted simply as by the process 
of hardening, they are plaited or interwoven in a way that could 
not be imitated in cordage by the turning of a wheel. Here then 
is the difference—by the twisting of a rope, the strands cannot 
resist the strain equally, whilst we see that this is provided for in 
the tendon by the regular interweaving of the yarn, if we may so 
express it, so that every fibre deviates from the parallel line in the 
same degree, and, consequently, receives the same strain when the 
tendon is pulled. If we seek for examples illustrative of this 
structure of the tendons, we must turn to the subject of ship-rig 
ging, and see there how the seaman contrives, by undoing the 
strands and yarns of a rope, and twisting them anew, to make his 
splicing stronger than the original cordage. A sailor opens the 
ends of two ropes, and places the strand of one opposite and be¬ 
tween the strand of another, and so interlaces them. And this ex¬ 
plains why a hawser-rope, a sort of small cable, is spun of three 
strands; for as they are necessary for many operations in tjie rigging 
of a ship, they must be formed in a way that admits of being cut 
and spliced, for the separation of three strands, at least, is necessa¬ 
ry for knotting, splicing, whipping, mailing, &c., 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 splicing and 
plaiting in the subdivisions of the rope make an intertexture strong¬ 
er than the original rope, it is an additional demonstration, if any 
were wanted, to show the perfection of the cordage 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 exchange, the most ap¬ 
proved 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 
diameter. 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 yams of each strand in it are in¬ 
terwoven with those of other strands. It however, gratifies us to 
^e, that the principle we draw from the animal body is here con- 
