Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 014.djvu/179

Rh. They lie three deep upon the body, every part being covered with 3 scales succesively, tho not above 1/3, part of a scale discover it self to the Eye, the other 2/3 parts being hid by the other scales. As Fig. M. where the part exposed to view is marked 1, 2, 3, 4. the rest is covered by other scales. The point 3 is not always so sharp as I have here made it, but it being like the Original, which seem'd a perfect scale, I would not alter it.

The scales of Fishes also appear but in part, to the Eye, but it is very observable tho fishes never change their scales; yet men do often. Particularly I instance in my self at this time, being the first of September. That the scales came off me not by one and one, but 1000 in a Cluster. When I pluck off a scale from my body which sticks fast, and perhaps is but newly grown, there comes blood after it, or at least there remains a red spot,

I took off the skin from a scar in my Arm, caused by blood-letting 25 years since, and found the scales to have the shape of L.

Thro many of the aforesaid scales, there run transparent lines, in an odd manner, as at M. and these lines are sometimes stuck with round Balls, of the bigness of 1/6 a blood-globule, as may be seen in the same Figure.

These lines, I believe are caused by the sweat of the body, bringing with it some gross substances which adhere to the scales; the Globules also may either come whole out of the body, or else be made afterwards out of the matter which is evaporated.

It's easy to conceive how a Louse, Flea, or other infect may thrust his sting or snout into the skin, for they need not do it thro the scales, but between the Plates or Mailes.

From hence also may be gathered, that there are no pores in the Cuticula, for the conveying out of sweat, because that may owze out from between the scales, tho they stick never so close together, without supposing