MUSCULAR SYSTEM. rf 217 



Q. How then is it that muscles are so rarely ruptured? 



*ft. Because the concentrated contraction of a great num- 

 ber of fibres, compensates for the weakness of one. 



Q. What is the proximate principle, the essence of the 

 muscular texture? 



*#. When by various means you have separated the co- 

 louring matter, gelatine, albumen, and saline principles 

 from the muscle, you will have left a gray fibre, which is 

 not soluble in warm water, but is so in weak acids. This 

 fibre gives out much azote when exposed to nitric acid, 

 and it resembles the fibrin of the blood. This substance 

 constitutes the nutritive matter of muscles, as phosphate 

 of lime does that of bones. 



Q. What relation does this fibrous substance bear to the 

 blood? 



*#. There is, in general, a constant relation between the 

 quantity of this fibrous substance contained in the muscles, 

 and the quantity of it that the blood contains. 



Q. What organization is common to the muscles and 

 other parts? 



/?. Cellular substance, which abounds greatly, envelop- 

 ing every muscle, fasciculus, and fibre. 



Q. What is the use of this cellular texture in the mus- 

 cles? 



Ji. It fixes them in their place, and greatly facilitates 

 their motions. 



Q. There is another constituent in muscular organiza- 

 tion, what is it? 



A. It is red blood which enters largely into it. 



Q. Is it the mere circulation of that fluid which colours 

 a muscle? 



2S 



