228 FIBROUS TISSUE. 



process, were cut away. He explained by this the pain which 

 sometimes occurs instantaneously in sprains, in the reduction of 

 luxations, and in other analogous processes. 



The ultimate structure of these parts is, perhaps, not perfectly 

 understood. 



An anatomist of the highest authority, Haller, appears to 

 have considered them as formed of membrane, while a late 

 writer, who has paid great attention to the subject, and is also 

 of high authority, M. Bichat, has satisfied himself that their 

 structure is essentially fibrous. 



If a tendon, or portion of tendinous membrane, be spread 

 out, or forcibly, extended, in a direction which is transverse 

 with respect to its fibres, it will seem to be converted into a 

 fine membrane, and the fibres will disappear to the naked eye. 

 The same circumstances will occur when a ligament is treated 

 in a similar way ; but much more force is required. 



Thus constructed, these parts are perfectly passive portions of 

 the animal fabric, and have no more power of motion than the 

 bones with which many of them are connected. 



But notwithstanding their ordinary insensibility, they often 

 induce a general violent affection of the system when they are 

 diseased. A high degree of fever, as well as severe pain, 

 attends their acute inflammations ; and hectical symptoms, in 

 their greatest extent, are often induced by their suppurations. 



There is another circumstance in their history which is very 

 difficult to reconcile with their ordinary insensibility. They are 

 the most common seats of gouty painful affections. 



In these cases, pain does not seem to be the simple effect of 

 inflammation : it often occurs as the first symptom of the dis- 

 ease ; it frequently exists with great violence for a short time and 

 goes off without inflammation, and it is frequently vicarious with 

 affections of the most sensible and irritable parts. 



Parts of a tendinous and ligamentous structure do not appear 

 retentive of life, but lose their animation very readily, in conse- 

 quence of the inflammation and other circumstances which attend 

 wounds. 



When thus deprived of life, they retain their usual appear- 



