188 OF MUSCULAR MOTION. 



membrane,* which is so interwoven with its substance 

 as to surround the bands, the bundles, and even each 

 particular fibril. 



296. Every part of the muscles is amply supplied 

 with blood-vessels and nervous threads.* The latter 

 appear to deliquesce into an invisible pulp and unite 

 intimately w ith the muscular fibres : the former are so 

 interwoven with the fibres, that the whole muscle is 

 red and acquires its own paleness (294) only by bring 

 washed. 



297. Most muscles terminate in tendons,+ which are 

 fibrous % parts, but so different in colour, texture, elas- 

 ticity, &c. as to be readily distinguished from muscles: 

 thus disproving the opinion of some, — that the tendi- 

 nous fibres originate from the muscular. This error 

 arose chiefly from the circumstance of the muscles of 

 infants containing a greater number of fleshy fibres, in 

 proportion to the tendinous, than those of the adult. 



298. The other exclusive character of muscles (293) 

 is the irritability of Haller, § the notion of which, and 

 its difference from contractility, we formerly explained 

 (41), but shall now prosecute farther. 



• See Ad. Murray, De Fascia Lata. Upsal. 177". 4to. 



■J* Sec Fourcroy, Mtfmoircs de I Academic des Sciences de Paris. 1785. 

 p. 392; and 1786. p. 38. 



J Albinus, Annotat. Acadctn. L. iv. Tab. v. fig. 2. 



§ I thus distinguish it, not because the luminary of the Gottingen school first 

 discovered it, for he repeatedly bestowed praises upon the opinions entertained 

 with regard to it by his predecessors from the time of Glisson, but because he 

 first investigated it as it deserved, illustrated it, enlarged the knowledge of it by 

 numerous living dissections, and demonstrated the great power and influence of 

 the doctrine, thus remodelled, upon the animal economy. 1 have also another 

 reason, viz.. to distinguish It from the irritability of the tndy meritorious 

 Gauhius, who applied the same term to the morbid sensibility of the living 

 solid. 



