39 



not only in being under the power of the animal, but in 

 the fact that their motion ceased immediately after death. 



The conclusions which the Author deduced from the 

 observations he had made were : — 



1. That irritability existed in plants and nerveless 

 infusoria, and was, consequently, independent of a 

 nervous system. 



2. That contractility was not resident in any particular 

 structure alone, having been found to exist in vegetable 

 and animal cells — in transparent structureless mem- 

 brane, in the fibres of areolar tissue, &c, as well as in 

 the more complex muscles of animal and organic life. 



3. That the influence of vitality on contractility and 

 irritability was most marked on those organs of motion 

 which were most under the influence of the will — the 

 power of the voluntary muscles always ceasing first in 

 every class of animals. 



