Part 68

Second variety. Age.—Vivacity of the contractility in infancy.—Consequences.—Opposite phenomenon in old age. 33

Third Variety. Temperament.—Difference of individuals in regard to organic muscular force.—This force is not always in relation to the animal muscular force.—It cannot be increased like it by habit. 34

Fourth Variety. Sex. 35

Fifth Variety. Season and climate. 36

Sensible organic contractility considered in relation to the action of stimulants upon the organs.—The constant existence of an intermediate organ for this action.—Nature of this intermediate organ. ib.

Sensible organic contractility considered in relation to its duration after death.—Difference of this duration according to the kind of death.—Remarks. 38

Sympathies.—Sympathies of the heart.—Sympathies of the stomach.—Remarks upon bilious vomitings.—General observations.—Sympathies of the intestines, the bladder, &c. 40

Character of the vital properties.—Vital energy very considerable in this system.—Its affections act upon its predominant vital force.—The infrequency of the affections which suppose a derangement of the organic properties. 44

ARTICLE FOURTH.

PHENOMENA OF THE ACTION OF THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM OF ORGANIC LIFE.

I. Force of Contractions.

Difference from the force of contraction of the preceding system.—It is greater in the vital phenomena than in experiments.—Inaccuracy of calculations. 46

II. Quickness of the Contractions.

In experiments.—During life.—Comparison with the quickness of the preceding muscles. 49

III. Duration of the Contractions. 50

IV. State of the Muscles in Contraction.

Difference in this respect between the heart and the gastric muscles. ib.

V. Motions imparted by the Organic Muscles. 51

VI. Phenomena of the Relaxation of the Organic Muscles.

Differences of this relaxation from the active dilatation of the muscles.—Proofs of the phenomena of this dilatation. 52

ARTICLE FIFTH.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM OF ORGANIC LIFE.

I. State of this System in the Fœtus.

Predominance of the heart.—State of the other muscles.—Weakness of the organic contractility at this age. 55

II. State of the Organic Muscular System during Growth.

General increase of action at birth.—Of the growth in thickness and of that in length.—Their differences. 58

III. State of the Organic Muscular System after Growth. 61

IV. State of the Organic Muscular System in Old Age.