MUSCULAR SYSTEM. 227 



Q. Is the muscular texture very liable to organic dis- 

 ease? 



#. No; it is but little subject to this. It is seldom that 

 the tumours, or suppurations, or other organic affections, 

 so much met with elsewhere, are found in the muscular 

 texture. 



Phenomena of the Action of the. Muscular System of 

 Animal Life. 



Q. How do you form your estimate of the force of 

 muscular contraction ? 



A. It is in the ratio of the force of the organization of 

 the muscle, and that of the cerebral excitement 



Q. What are the three sources of muscular contraction ? 



Ji. Irritating the brain in experiments, excitement of 

 the 'brain in the natural state, and sympathetic influence. 



Q. Does the rapidity of muscular contraction depend 

 on the number of the branches of the nerves, supplying 

 the muscles, which may be irritated? 



A. The contractions are as rapid if you irritate one 

 branch, as if all the branches are irritated. 



Q. Are all the phenomena of muscular contraction 

 identical? 



A. No; cut a muscle and there is slow and insensible 

 contractility of texture, and this is seen in muscles where 

 the antagonizing muscles are palsied. Then you have the 

 rapid contraction, either voluntary, or from irritation of 

 the nerve; and lastly, you have that oscillation which a 

 chill or fear produces. 



Q. How do you estimate the effect which a muscle in 



