* , 6N MUSCULAR MOTION. 19^ 



tire of fu^cient capacity to adroit the red particles of blood, 

 but the intrinfic matter of mufcle, contained within the ultimate 

 cylinder, has no red particles. 



The arteries of mulcles anaflomofe with correfponding 

 veins ; but this courfe of a continuous canal cannot be fup- 

 poied to acl in a dired manner upon the matter of mufcle. 



The capillary arteries terminating in the mufcular fibrie 

 muil alone effect all the changes of increafe in the bulk, or 

 number, of fibres, in the replenifliment of exhaufted materials, 

 and in the repair of injuries; fome of thefe neceflities may be 

 tuppofed to be continually operating. It is well known, that 

 the circulation of the blood is not elTential to mufcular adion ; 

 fo that the mode of diftribution of the blood velTels, and the 

 differences in their iize, or number, as applied to mufcles, can 

 only be adaptations to fome fpecial convenience. 



Another prevalent opinion among anatomies, is the infinite Vafcularity Is 



extenfion of vafcularity, which is contradided in a diied "°^ '"^.'?i''' ^"^ 



■^* perceptibly 



manner by comparative refearches. The feveral parts of a limited, 

 quadruped are fenfibly more or lefs vafcular, and of different 

 contextures; and, admitting that the varied diameter of the 

 blood veffels difpofed in each fpecies of fubftance, were to be 

 conftituted by the grofs fenfible differences of their larger 

 veffels only, yet, if the ultimate veffels were in all cafes 

 equally numerous, then the fole remaining caufe of diffimi- 

 larity would be in the compacting of the veffels. The vafa 

 vaforum of the larger trunks furnifh no reafon, excepting that 

 of a loofe analogy, for the fuppofition of vafa vaforum ex- 

 tended without limits. Moreover, the circulating fluids of all 

 animals are compofed of water, which gives them fluidity, and 

 of animalized particles of defined configuration and bulk; it 

 follows that the vefl^els through which fuch fluids are to pafs, 

 mufl be of fufficient capacity for the fi^e of the particles, and 

 that fmaller veffels could only filtrate water devoid of fuch 

 animal particles : a pofition repugnant to all the known fafts 

 of the circulation of blood, and the animal economy. 



The capillary arteries which terminate in the mufcular fibre. Capillary arSeriec, 

 mud be fecretory veffels for depofiting the mufcular matter, 

 the lymphacdu6ls ferving to remove the fuperfluous extrava- 

 fated watery fluids, and the decayed fubflances which are 

 unfit for ufe. 



\'oL. XI.— July, 1805. O The 



