358 MUSCLES. 



ferior extremities next, and those of the superior last. The last 

 act of life is in the auricles, of which the right pulsates longest. 

 Different circumstances may produce some variety of this pro- 

 gress, in the loss of muscular irritability, but it will be found ge- 

 nerally correct.* The experiments of Himlyf demonstrate, 

 that laurel water, or that of bitter almonds, applied to the sto- 

 mach or brain, renders the heart insensible to the strongest sti- 

 mulants, while the muscles of volition continue to move for 

 some hours afterwards. The duration of irritability is, however, 

 much varied, according to the nature of the death, and the state 

 of health preceding. Nysten asserts, that he has seen the right 

 auricle of a robust man pulsate nine hours after death. In death 

 from chronic diseases, with much emaciation, the heart ceases 

 to beat shortly after intellectual phenomena cease. And in 

 death from electricity; from a blow upon the stomach; from the 

 inhalation of carburetted hydrogen gas, and some other poison- 

 ous ones, muscular contraction ceases universally in a few mo- 

 ments, and cannot be excited by any artificial means. 



The irritability of the muscles is so modified that certain sti- 

 mulants are peculiarly appropriate to one and not to another. 

 For example, light is the specific stimulant to the iris; a me- 

 chanical application, to it as in making artificial pupil, is borne 

 frequently without its contracting. The heart is very sensible 

 to mechanical stimulants, and additionally so when they are 

 applied to its internal surface. 



Some of the muscles are regularly under the influence of the 

 will, others not at all so, which has given rise to their division 

 into voluntary and involuntary. These states, though kept per- 

 fectly distinct from each other in health, are sometimes blend- 

 ed in disease, the voluntary muscles becoming involuntary in 

 their actions, and the involuntary voluntary; which, however, 

 is much more uncommon than the other. 



The voluntary muscles are generally such as serve for loco- 

 motion and speech, and receive their nerves directly from the 

 spinal marrow. The involuntary muscles are such as are con- 

 cerned in the functions of digestion, respiration, and circulation, 

 and which, in order to continue the life of the animal, must 



* Meckel, Anat. Gen. 



| Commentatio <Je Morte, Goettingue, 1794. 



