Page:Of the Gout - Stukeley - 1734.djvu/51

the peristaltic motion of the intestines, the third that of the heart. Likewise all lesser and more particular membranes belonging to the viscera are of like structure. All the common membranes which cover the muscles, which are the ropes of the body; all the membranes which cover the joints, the pullys of those ropes, partake of like artifice. The little glands abounding over their whole surface spew out continually an oyl, to keep them moist and smooth. More particularly still, in the joints themselves are certain cavitys contriv'd, wherein great glands are inferred, as in a secure corner, not to be press'd upon by the bones in action: yet so as to gently touch'd and sollicited to pour out their oleaginous contents, upon every action. Likewise upon every great tendon of a muscle, there is a gland to moisten it and keep it from breaking. Thus in that cavity for the head of the thigh-bone is a great gland, as big as a nut, the largest of this sort in the whole body as the largest joint: in the knee-joint are 4 or 5, in all the joints of the hands are considerable glands, well provided by wise nature for that organ of organs. So upon every tendon of the hands, especially those of the musculi perforantes; upon the shoulders: upon the feet, on every joint and tendon of the toes, tarsus, metatarsus,