MARIE FRANgOIS XAVIER BICHAT 171 

 tures ; in others this network can hardly be demonstrated. As to the 

 peculiar part, which essentially distinguishes the texture, the differ- 

 ences are striking. Color, thickness, hardness, density, resistance, 

 etc., nothing is similar. More inspection is sufficient to show a num- 

 ber of characteristic attributes of each clearly different from the 

 others. Here is a fibrous arrangement, there a granulated one; here 

 it is lamellated, there circular. Notwithstanding these differences, 

 authors are not agreed as to the limits of the different textures. I 

 have had recourse, in order to leave no doubt upon this point, to the 

 action of different re-agents. I have examined every texture, sub- 

 mitted them to the action of caloric, air, water, the acids, the alkalies, 

 the neutral salts, etc., drying, putrefaction, maceration, boiling, etc. ; 

 the products of many of these actions have altered in a different man- 

 ner each kind of texture. Now it will be seen that the results have 

 almost all been different, that in these various changes each acts in a 

 particular way, each gives results of its own, no one resembling an- 

 other. 



There has been considerable inquiry to ascertain whether the ar- 

 terial coats are fleshy, whether the veins are of an analogous nature, 

 etc. By comparing the results of my experiments upon the different 

 textures, the question is easily resolved. It would seem at first view 

 that all these experiments upon the intimate texture of systems answer 

 but little purpose ; I think, however, that they have effected a useful 

 object, in fixing with precision the limits of each organized texture; 

 for the nature of these textures being unknown, their differences can 

 be ascertained only by the different results they furnish. 



3rdly. In giving to each system a different organic arrangement, 

 nature has also endowed them with different properties. You will see 

 in the subsequent part of this work, that what we call texture presents 

 degrees indefinitely varying, from the muscles, the skin, the cellular 

 membrane, etc., which enjoy it in the highest degree, to the cartilages, 

 the tendons, the bones, etc., which are almost destitute of it. Shall I 

 speak of the vital properties? See the animal sensibly predominant 

 in the nerves, contractility of the same kind particularly marked in the 

 voluntary muscles, sensible organic contractility, forming the peculiar 

 property of the involuntary, insensible contractility and sensibility of 

 the same nature, which is not separated from it more than from the 

 preceding, characterizing especially the glands, the skin, the serous 



