OF THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM IN GENERAL. 435 



vanism. However, when irritability is well manifested and 

 the galvanic action is strong, the irritation applied to one of 

 the parts of the reunited muscle, is propagated through the 

 cicatrice, which however does not contract with the other 

 part of the muscle. We are ignorant, if during life, and by 

 the action of the will, the parts of a muscle divided across 

 and united by a cicatrice, both contract. It is evident that 

 the greater the separation between the muscles at the time 

 the mediate reunion has occurred, that also the means of re- 

 union will be longer and more extensible, and the more will 

 the muscles have lost of their extension and power. Under 

 the most favourable circumstances, movements at first are im- 

 possible and afterwards feeble and uncertain until the means 

 of union have acquired their proper degree of firmness. 



All that has just been advanced on the reunion of the mus- 

 cles that have been cut across, is applicable to their rupture 

 through effort. 



When a transversal wound of the muscles or of the skin has 

 remained separated and gaping, there is found throughout its 

 extent, a layer of suppurating granulations, and afterwards a 

 cicatrice more or less extensive, under which the two ends of 

 the muscle remain separated. 



In the latter case, as well as the former, the intermediate 

 substance, too long and too extensible, which formed the re- 

 union of the divided muscle, has sometimes been denuded and 

 cut out; by afterwards bringing into contact the divided parts 

 and retaining them in that state sufficiently long, a short and 

 firm reunion has been obtained and motion restored to parts 

 which had almost entirely lost it. 



698. The muscles are subject to variations and to mal- 

 conformation; monstrous foetus, acephalus* and others, have 

 been seen, deprived of all the muscles or of all those apper- 

 taining to a particular member at least, these organs being re- 

 placed by infiltrated cellular tissue. 



We observe more frequently the defect or absence of single 

 muscles. 



* Beclard, Memoir es sur les foetus acfphaks. 



