I 
Of the Mufculdr Fibres of Animals . 141 
Thefe flejhy Fibres appear, through their 
whole Length, encompafied with circular 
Wrinkles. If a Thread were twifted about 
a fine Needle in a Screw-like Form, with 
fpiral Circumvolutions, fo that each Thread 
be diftant from another the Diameter of the 
Needle, it would naturally reprefent the 
Manner of thefe circular Twiftings. And 
this Difpofition is wonderfully contrived for 
the ready Difienfon or Contraction of the 
Fibres : for as a Cord will be diftended or 
contracted quicker or fower in Proportion 
to its Length, the fame mufi: alfo be the 
Cafe in Animal Fibres; and, therefore, 011 
thefe Principles we may calculate how much 
more nimbly the Leg of a Moufe can move 
than the Leg of an Ox. 
The Method of viewing the Mufcular 
Fibres is, to cut carefully, and with a very 
fharp Razor or Penknife, a Slice of dried 
Flefh or Fifih, as thin as poflible. Lay it 
on a Piece of Glafs, and moifien it with 
warm Water; which drying foon away, will 
leave the Vefiels open and diftinguifhable* 
—It is obfervable, that the Fibres of Fifh 
are larger than thofe of Fleih. 
That the Mufcular Fibres are vafcular, or 
made up of little hollow Vefiels, is fuppofed 
by Malpighius, Borelli, Gorter, our 
©wn Countryman Mr. Hooke, wfto fays, 
b 2 they 
