f sii J 
organs of the fijhes jujl mentioned\ and for 
this reafon I confder mufcles as electrical 
machines. 
Their aCtion arifes from she circulation of 
their electricity , which is effected by the me¬ 
dium of the nerves. 
‘The motions of other mufcular parts, in¬ 
dependent of the will y are executed by afmple 
afflux of nervous electricity, determined to 
thefe parts by fpecific flimuli. 
I have often coated the nerves of mufcles 
independent of the will, and have efabiijhed 
a communication between the coating and the 
naked nerves, or the mufcles themfelves, by 
means of a conductor % but I could never 
fucceed in producing contractions. If this 
circumflance had not happened, infead of hav¬ 
ing recourfe to the afflux of nervous electri¬ 
city, I Jhould have faid, that the mechanifm 
of thefe mufcles was the fame as that of ihofe 
which obey the will. For a conflderable time I 
entertained this idea, as appearing moft con¬ 
formable 
/ 
