COMPOUNDS OF ORGANIZATION. 79 



chiefly of what is termed animal matter, of combinations of 

 carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and azote. They consist of 

 fibres, -which are usually grouped into faggots ; of plates, 

 which, crossing one another in various directions, give rise 

 to a cellular structure, or of a uniform pulpy mass. 



The fibrous texture may be observed in all the muscles, 

 tendons, and ligaments, and in the bones of many animals, 

 especially before birth. These fibres, however minutely 

 divided, do not appear to be hollow, like, those of the Ve- 

 getable Kingdom. 



The cellular texture is universally distributed in the 

 form of membranes, which invest every organ, the bundles 

 of fibres in every muscle ; and, by forming tubes, with the 

 addition of the fibrous texture, constitute the containing 

 vessels. This substance gives form to all the different parts, 

 and is that particular portion which is first formed, and which 

 constitutes the frame, on and within which the other mate- 

 rials of the system are deposited. It readily expands by 

 the increase of its contents ; and, with equal ease, contracts 

 when the distending cause is removed. 



The pulpy texture is confined to the brain and nerves, 

 the liver, kidneys, and other secreting organs of the system. 

 Its composition appears to the eye homogeneous, and its 

 form is regulated by its cellular envelope. 



These soft solids are alone capable of possessing the fa- 

 culty of sensation. By their aid, the nervous energy is ex- 

 erted on the different parts of the body ; and, through 

 them, the impressions of external objects are received. 



The hard solids consist either of cartilage, which resem- 

 bles, in its qualities, coagulated albumen, or of bone, form- 

 ed by various combinations of earthy salts. They are des- 

 titute of sensation, and are chiefly employed in defending 

 the system from injury, giving it the requisite stability, and 

 assisting the muscles in the execution of their movements. 



