180 CONCLUSION. CHAP. xin. 



tissues. From the experiments of Vassali Eakdi it 

 would appear, that the secreted products retain their 

 peculiar electric state (the negative) when separated 

 from the body. I have no experiments of my own 

 either to prove or disprove this supposition. But with 

 regard to the tissues, the muscular and the nervous, 

 there can be no doubt that they do retain their pecu- 

 liar electrical state, which is also negative, like that of 

 a secreted product. Now this electrical state of the 

 tissue would appear to be intimately coimected with 

 its vital condition ; that the so-called irritaMlity of llie 

 muscular tissue, as well as the so-called sensiMlity of 

 the nervous tissue, are most probably entirely de- 

 pendent upon it. 



With respect to the muscular tissue, it would also 

 appear as a necessary consequence of its electrical 

 state, that the particles or substance of the tissue 

 must be in a state of self-repulsion, in a polarized 

 state or condition, a charged state, a state of ten- 

 sion, and that relaxation of the muscular fibre would 

 be synonymous with this state of tension. Whatever 

 would interfere with this electrical state would 

 necessarily diminish this self-repellent action, and 

 cause an approximation of the particles, in other 

 words, a shortening of the fibre, and hence would 

 arise muscular contraction. Now in favour of this 

 supposition, and presenting a strong argument in 

 confirmation of this view of muscular contraction, we 

 are enabled to shew, that during muscular contraction 

 electricity is evolved. 



