OF VITAL MOTION. 71 



ment in favour of there having been an actual abstrac- 

 tion, and not a communication of force on the contact 

 of any foreign body. And if there has been such an 

 abstraction, then the fact points to electricity, for this 

 is the only known agent which could be abstracted in 

 this instantaneous manner. 



This question, however, is intimately connected with 

 the phenomena of muscular action in the system of 

 animal life, and its solution must be deferred until we 

 can consider this subject. 



II. OF MOVEMENTS IN THE VOLUNTARY MUSCLES. 



The muscles of this system are chiefly distinguished 

 by the ready manner in which they are affected by the 

 nerves; and under this head the relation of nervous 

 influence to muscular action wiU be a very important 

 subject of inquiry. 



1. Of intra-organic force as the agent in these 

 movements. 



(a.) Of the nervous influence as an agent. 



Comparative anatomy furnishes a fundamental 

 objection to the idea that nervous influence is neces- 

 sary to the state of contraction in the voluntary 

 muscles, for it is found that this phenomenon is more 

 vigorous and perfect in reptiles, and in animals whose 



