COMPOUNDS OF ORGANIZATION. 79 
chiefly of what is termed animal matter, of combinations of 
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and azote. They consist of 
fibres, which are usually grouped into faggots; of plates, 
which, crossing one another in various directions, give rise 
to a cellular structure, or of a uniform pulpy mass. 
The fibrous texture may be observed in all the muscles, 
tendons, and ligaments, and in the bones of many animals, 
especially before birth. These fibres, however minutely 
divided, do not appear to be hollow, like those of the Ve- 
getable Kingdom. 
The cellar texture is universally distributed in the 
form of membranes, which invest every organ, the bundles 
of fibres in every muscle; and, by forming tubes, with the 
addition of the fibrous texture, constitute the containing 
vessels. This substance gives form to all the different parts, 
and is that particular portion which is first formed, and which 
constitutes the frame, on and within which the other mate- 
rials of the system are deposited. It readily expands by 
the increase of its contents; and, with equal ease, contracts 
when the distending cause 1s removed. 
The pulpy texture is confined to the brain and nerves, 
the liver, kidneys, and other secreting organs of the system. 
Its composition appears to the eye homogeneous, and its 
form is regulated by its cellular envelope. 
These soft solids are alone capable of possessing the fa- 
culty of sensation. By their aid, the nervous energy is ex- 
erted on the different parts of the body; and, through 
them, the impressions of external objects are received. 
The hard socids consist either of cartilage, which resem- 
bles, in its qualities, coagulated albumen, or of bone, form- 
ed by various combinations of earthy salts. They are des- 
titute of sensation, and are chiefly employed in defending 
the system from injury, giving it the requisite stability, and 
assisting the muscles in the execution of their movements. 
