THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM. 257 



within the muscular fibre. In the former case, the nuclei and the original 

 contents of the formative cells, which often contain a large quantity of 

 fatty matter, are situated in the interior of the embryonic muscular 

 tubule, or between it and the sarcolemma ; in the latter always close 

 upon the sarcolemma. 



With respect to the pathological relations of these tissues, the follow- 

 ing remarks may be offered : The substance of the striated muscles is 

 not regenerated, and wounds of muscles heal simply with a tendinous 

 callus. A new formation of them has been noticed by Rokitansky 

 ("Zeitsch. der Wiener," Aerzte, 1849, p. 331), in a case of tumor of 

 the testis in an individual 18 years old, and by Virchow (" Verh. der 

 Wurzb.," Ges., I.) in an ovarian tumor. In the latter case, which came 

 under my own observation, there were elongated, fusiform, transversely 

 striated cells, each with a nucleus, similar to those described by Remak 

 in the Tadpole. The state of the elementary parts in hypertrophy of 

 the muscles is uncertain.* This condition, however, except in the tongue, 

 heart, and certain respiratory muscles (Bardeleben), does not perhaps 

 occur at all ; it is at all events extremely rare in the striped muscles. 

 (Romberg, "Nervenkr.," p. 291, asserts, that such a condition ensues 

 upon long-continued cramps, though it appears to me that this point is 

 not yet sufficiently established.) Equally uncertain, also, is the intimate 

 condition of the muscular elements in the increased development caused 

 by exercise, and whether this depend upon the growth of the pre-exist- 

 ing muscular fasciculi, or on the introduction of new ones the latter of 

 which supposition may perhaps be affirmed without much chance of error, 

 in the case of the extreme degrees of pathological hypertrophy. Atrophy 

 of the muscles is very frequent, as in old age, paralysis, particularly of 

 the tongue, and in cases of lead-poisoning, and in the development of 

 cancer, fibrous tumors (consequent on inflammation), and of fat, &c., 

 in the substance of the muscles. The processes, however, which are set 

 up in these cases, have as yet been but little investigated. In extreme 

 old age I find the fasciculi small, presenting occasionally a diameter of 

 not more than 0-004-0-008 of a line, easily broken up, mostly without 

 transverse stripes, and with the fibrils indistinct, whilst they frequently 

 contain yellowish or brown granules, as much as 0-001 of a line in size, 

 often in large quantity, and very many vesicular nuclei with nucleoli. 



* [Wedl has observed longitudinal rows of yellow or brownish granules in hypertro- 

 phied as well as in atrophied muscle. These granules are not dissolved by acetic acid or 

 alkalies; and seem deposited around the nuclei of the sarcolemma. In hypertrophied 

 muscle, a peculiar gelatinous substance in the interstitial tissue is sometimes met with. 

 This causes the primitive fasciculi to adhere to each other, and generally results in a com- 

 plete softening and destruction of the sarcolemma, in the place of which we find a fine 

 granular mass. 



The interstitial substance is sometimes found in an hypertrophied state. If this occur to 

 any extent it produces an atrophy of the muscular fibre. DaC.] 



17 



