AND FAMILY DISPENSATORY, 41 
the action; of arteries, by which it is nourifhed; of veins, which carry back the 
fuperfluous nourifhment; of nerves, which give fenfe, and convey the motive fa- 
culty to the brain ; of membranes, which encompafs and keep the mufcles together ; 
of fat, which moiftens them, and keeps them from being dried by too much mo- 
tion. The fibres and flefh are only extended according to the ftraight pofition of 
the fibres; the tendon is in the beginning and end; the arteries and veins run 
through the fubftance of the mufcle; the nerve, as foon as it is entered into the fub-_ 
ftance, is difperfed into a great number of twigs, which end in it, and become in- 
confpicuous; the membrane is proper to the mufcle only, and fprings either from 
the tendons, or is framed by nature in the firft conformation of the parts; the fat 
lies in void {paces to prevent a vacuum or emptinefs. The action of a mufcle is 
voluntary or free motion. This action or motion is three-fold: firft, when the 
mufcle is contra¢ted towards its head within itfelf; thereby relaxing the oppofite 
muicle: fecondly, when the motion is tonic, fo that being contracted it remains fo; 
thefe two motions are primary, per /e, and not accidental: thirdly, when (after con- 
traction) it is relaxed, or reftored to its former pofition, which motion is acciden- 
tal, and proceeds from another ; and therefore mufcles are always placed one againft 
another as antagonifts. The manner of this a¢tion or motion varies according to the 
variety of parts; for, in the throat, it is fwallowing; in the arm, bending and 
ftretching forth; in the anus, expulfion and retention ; &c. This motion is vo- 
luntary or free ; for we can haften or flacken, make or ftop, this motion, as we 
pleafe - but there are fome fingular mufcles, as of the infide of the ear, the midriff, 
the mufcles of the cheft, and of the eye-lids, whofe motion is partly voluntary, 
partly natural, becaufe they often perform their aétions when we have no thought 
or will thereto. Thofe mufcles which only perform continual or {trong motions, 
which are all fuch as are appointed for moving the bones, have tendons; but thofe 
which move other parts, as the tongue, lips, forehead, face, bladder, anus, &c. 
feldom have any ; for the mufcles move themfelves only, as thofe of the anus and 
bladder : or they move with themfelves and the skin alfo, as in the lips, forehead, 
‘and face: or they move a bone, and fuch, by reafon of the ftrong motion, require 
tendons. The diverfity of this motion comes from the diverfity of the fituation: 
fo a ftraight mufcle has a ftraight motion ; a tranfverfe, a tranfverfe motion 3 an 
oblique, an oblique motion ; and that which compafles a part has an orbicular 
motion, as the fphinéters. The efficient caufe of thefe actions, or motions, is the 
foul of the creature, inclined thereto by the appetite or will: now the foul ufes 
three inftruments to perform the action : firft, the brain, to receive the charge; 
fecondly, the nerve, to carry it to the mufcle ; thirdly, the mufcle, to perform the 
- 99: M action 
