£74 THE EDIBLE MUSCLE. 



Muscle be Inclined to make this its residence, the in- 

 strument of its motion is now put to a very different 

 employment, in spinning those silky threads that 

 fix it firmly to the spot; and, like a ship at anchor, 

 enable it to brave all the agitations of the water. 

 This it accomplishes by seizing with its point the 

 gluten supplied by a gland situated under its base, 

 and drawing it out, through the furrow, into threads. 

 When the muscle is thus fixed it lives upon the 

 little earthy particles, or upon the bodies of such 

 smaller animals as the water transports to its shells. 

 The present Muscle is generally esteemed a rich 

 and wholesome food ; but to some constitutions it 

 often occasions disorders, the symptoms of which 

 are great swellings, eruptions of blotches or pimples, 

 shortness of breath, convulsive motions, and some- 

 times even delirium. A remedy that has been re- 

 commended is two spoons-full of oil, and one of 

 lemon juice (or, in want of this, about two of vine- 

 gar) shaken well together, and swallowed as soon 

 as any of the symptoms take place. This unwhole- 

 some quality has been attributed to a small species 

 of crab, the Cancer fisum of Linnaeus, that some- 

 times is found in the shells of the muscle. It seems, 

 however, not to have its seat in any thing essential 

 to the muscle; for, when accidents of this kind 

 have happened, some persons have been affected, 

 and others have not, who have eaten at the same 

 time, and at least in equal quantity. 



