THE MUSCLES. 55 



fluid, which distends the joint enormously. It is accompanied with 

 intense redness and acute pain, and requires fomentation and other 

 treatment to reduce it. In scrofulous persons, the inflammation 

 does not assume this acute form, but is low and long-continued ; 

 the synovial membrane forms purulent matter, instead of merely an 

 increased quantity of its natural secretion ; the matter gradually 

 works its way to the surface, making one or two ulcerated open- 

 ings, leading directly into the joint, and by and by the cartilages 

 are destroyed, and if a probe be introduced, the ends of the bones 

 are felt to be bare and rough. In this state the patient's general 

 health suffers much ; he becomes affected with shivering, profuse 

 night sweats, and often purging, &c. 



CHAPTER V. 



THE MUSCLES. 



Knowest thou the nature of the human frame, 



That world of wonders, more than we can name ? 



Say, has thy busy, curious eye survey 'd 



The proofs of boundless wisdom there display'd, 



How ranged each fibre with amazing skill 



That every muscle may attend thy will ; 



How every tendon acts upon its bone, 



And how the nerves receive their nicer tone ; 



Convey the keen vibration of the sense ; 



And give the wakeful mind intelligence, 



How some strong guard each vital part sustains, 



How flows the purpk liquid through the veins ! 



IN order that the bones when connected by their joints may be 

 brought into motion, there must exist to each a moving power. 

 The moving power resides in the muscles. Muscles are the masses 

 of red flesh which are seen in cutting a piece of meat, arranged in 

 determinate forms, and separated from one another by cellular 

 membrane and fat. When examined chemically, they are found to 

 consist almost wholly of a principle derived from the blood, which is 

 called fibrin. They are of a red color, not from any inherent quality 

 of the fibrin, for they can be washed almost white, but from the 

 large quantity of blood which is constantly circulating through them. 

 Indeed, a muscle requires blood to go to' it to be able to act, and 



