[ 66 3 
XXXVIII. 
Of depraved Motions. 
Palfies, Cramps, and Epilepfies, may be accounted 
for by this Syftem. 
May not the mufcular Cells become rigid and hard, 
and not be capable of being dilated to the Degree 
necefiary to carry on the Action and Re-aCtion be- 
tween them and the interftitial Air, in an equal man- 
ners and therefore produce fuch irregular Attempts 
to Motion, as would amount to a paralytic Tremor ? 
Frequent Drinking fpirituous Liquors will render the 
Cells of the mufcular Fibres rigid, and caufe the fame 
EfFeCts ; and in Fevers, with what is called a Sabfultus 
Tendinum , a common Symptom arifes, which is an 
imperfeCt Attempt to pull the Bed-cloaths, attended 
wijh a Tremor . and proceeds from the fame Caufe $ 
for the violent Heat of the Fever has render'd all 
the Fibres and their Ceils rigid, and, therefore, inca- 
pable of due Inflation 5 for that Motion is not made 
in the Tendon which we feel, but is produced by 
the irregular Twifchings of the mufcular Fibres of 
that Tendon, 
XXXIX. 
Or may not thefe Cells be too lax and weak, 
and fo lofe much of their Elafticity, and yield to 
the Entrance of too great a Quantity of the in- 
flating Matter of the Nerves, whereby the inter- 
ftitial Air may be conftantly comprefled, and the 
peculiar Equilibrium deprav'd, fo as to produce 
Spafms, 
