[ §9 3 
This tenfion, laxity, and maceration of 
the mufcles, are the mo ft common acci¬ 
dents which fucceed convulflons excited 
by the caufes juft mentioned. Thefe are 
cafes in which, although the nerves are 
in a fit ftate for conducting electricity, yet 
the experiment does not fucceed. 
In the ftate of tenfion, the mufcular 
irritability is in aCtion. In what manner 
does it fupport itfelf? Can the eleCtricity 
remain included between the mufcular 
fibres, fo as to maintain them in a ftate of 
permanent contraction ? Is this phenome¬ 
non agreeable to the received laws of elec¬ 
tricity ? We fhall endeavour to folve thefe 
queries, when we fpeak of mufcular mo¬ 
tion. There is an example of the cir- 
cumftance in queftion, in the operation 
called crimping. 
The flefli of fifh, which are flayed alive, 
and cut into pieces, falls into contraction, 
and retains its contracted ftate even after 
death# The 
