OP THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM IN GENERAL.. 419 



Carlisle suggest that the nerves, at their termination, are diffus- 

 ed in the cellular tissue of the muscles,*nd that this tissue par- 

 ticipates of the conducting property of the nerves. Reil admits 

 the nerves possess a sphere of activity extended beyond 

 termination, and which he calls nervous atmosphere; 

 these are suppositions which shall be examined hereafter. 



663. The greater number of the muscles indeed, have the 

 extremities of their fibres attached to ligamentous tissue, through 

 the medium of which their*action is transmitted more or less 

 distinctly. But these ligamentous parts are much- more dif- 

 fused in the exterior than the interior muscles. 



664. The colour of the muscles varies greatly: those of 

 the invertebrate animals and those of the cold blooded verte- 

 brated animals are white; those of birds, mammiferous ani- 

 mals and man are some of them reddish, of the tint generally 

 known by the name of flesh colour; the others are of a grayish 

 white: the shade varies very much in all; it varies also ac- 

 cording to different circumstances, existing before or after 

 death. The colour is removed by washing or maceration; 

 it appears moreover the lighter in proportion as the muscle, 

 the bundle or the fasciculi is minute, and on the contrary, 

 the deeper in proportion as the size of the mass is greater. 

 In thin slices, muscular substance is semi-transparent. 



The consistency of the muscle greatly -varies, even in the 

 dead body, as well from the causes which have acted before or 

 after death, and will be examined when we come to speak of 

 their irritability. In general, the muscular fibre is soft, hu- 

 mid, slightly elastic, and easily torn in the cadaver. 



665. Muscular flesh exposed in thin slices to the action 

 of a current of dry air, or of a stove, loses more than half of 

 its weight, becomes brown, more transparent, and very hard. 

 On the contrary, if it be put in cold water frequently renew- 

 .ed, the flesh loses its hue entirely, and assumes a straw colour- 

 ed tint; maceration moreover softens and swells it. 



Alcohol, diluted acids, the solution of corrosive sublimate; 

 those of alum, common salt, and nitrate of potash, augment 

 the consistency of the muscle, slightly contract it, favour its 



