Microscopical observations of the fibres of muscles
Date
12 October 1713
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p70a
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (page): 190mm
width (page): 155mm
width (page): 155mm
Subject
Description
Seven figures, engraving with etching. Original drawings unknown.
This letter was originally sent to Antoni Heinsius on 8 November 1712, and now as a copy to Hans Sloane. The printed images come from Leeuwenhoek's Dutch publication Send-brieven (1718).
Fig. 1: a small part of whale flesh from close to its tail, soaked in water, observed with a microscope.
Fig. 2: a slice of meat from another whale for comparison.
Fig. 3: one of the slices dried out, showing how the fibres could dry in and become smaller, while the membranes could not shrink and stayed the same size.
Fig. 4: the size of one fibre, which can be divided into smaller fibres as shown in this image.
Fig. 5: two particles with a membrane in the middle (SW).
Fig. 6: some fibres drawn in length.
Fig. 7: some more fibres from another whale, showing the difference in size between the fibres in the whale from figs 6 and 7.
This letter was originally sent to Antoni Heinsius on 8 November 1712, and now as a copy to Hans Sloane. The printed images come from Leeuwenhoek's Dutch publication Send-brieven (1718).
Fig. 1: a small part of whale flesh from close to its tail, soaked in water, observed with a microscope.
Fig. 2: a slice of meat from another whale for comparison.
Fig. 3: one of the slices dried out, showing how the fibres could dry in and become smaller, while the membranes could not shrink and stayed the same size.
Fig. 4: the size of one fibre, which can be divided into smaller fibres as shown in this image.
Fig. 5: two particles with a membrane in the middle (SW).
Fig. 6: some fibres drawn in length.
Fig. 7: some more fibres from another whale, showing the difference in size between the fibres in the whale from figs 6 and 7.
Object history
Figures printed in:
Anthony van Leeuwenhoek, 'An extract of a letter from Mr Anthony van Leeuwenhoek', Phil. Trans. vol. 29, no. 338, pp. 55-58.
A. van Leeuwenhoek, Send-Brieven… (Delft: A. Beman, 1718), pp. 2-8 (in Dutch, this is the original letter sent to Heinsius).
A. van Leeuwenhoek, Epistolae Physiologicae (Delft: A. Beman, 1719), pp. 1-8 (in Latin, this is also the original letter sent to Heinsius).
Anthony van Leeuwenhoek, 'An extract of a letter from Mr Anthony van Leeuwenhoek', Phil. Trans. vol. 29, no. 338, pp. 55-58.
A. van Leeuwenhoek, Send-Brieven… (Delft: A. Beman, 1718), pp. 2-8 (in Dutch, this is the original letter sent to Heinsius).
A. van Leeuwenhoek, Epistolae Physiologicae (Delft: A. Beman, 1719), pp. 1-8 (in Latin, this is also the original letter sent to Heinsius).
Related fellows
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632 - 1723, Dutch) , Naturalist
Associated place