352 CIRCULATION. 



from the distending force of the heart, reacts on its contents 

 by virtue of its contractile coat, and completely empties itself 

 of blood. An action similar to this takes place after death 

 throughout the entire arterial system. The vessels react on 

 their contents, and gradually force all the blood into and 

 through the capillaries, which are very short, to the veins, 

 which are capacious, distensible, and but slightly contractile. 

 This begins immediately after death, while the irritability of 

 the muscular coat of the arteries remains, and is seconded by 

 the subsequent cadaveric rigidity, which affects all the in- 

 voluntary, as well as the voluntary muscular fibres. Once in 

 the venous system, the blood cannot return on account of the 

 valves. Thus after death the blood is found in the veins and 

 capillaries of dependent parts of the body. 



