Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-06-03
For the Journal.
PHYSIOLOGICAL ESSAY.-.No. 2.
BY MRS. L. NJ. N'FARLAND.
The Muscles.

seen with what iniinitable accuracy
every bone is adjusted, but what shall
give the motive power? The bones
though capable Of a great variety of
movement, cannot move themselves.
Simple bands of flesh wrapped round
them could not move the bones. The
mind could not make them move were
they encased in a simple sheath of
flesh. They are moved by machinery
more wonderful and more enduring
than that which moves the steam en-
gine. Upwards of five hundred ma
chimes called muscles are in operation
in the human system. These consti-
tute what is called flesh or lean meat,
but what we wish to bear in mind is,
lean meat is not simple substance,
but five hundred machines closely pack
ed together, in perfect working order.
The muscles assume different forms in
different parts of the body. Toward
the extremity of bone they become
aggregated or packed close together;
their structure becomes harder and they
are called tendons, or cords by which
the muscles are fastened to the bones.
In order that the muscles may move
the bones, it seems necessary that they
should be strongly fastened together
and such we find to be the case, for
under extreme violence, a bone will
sooner break than permit the cord
which binds the muscle to it, to be
torn off.
Physiology is circular science. /
have found neither the beginning nor
the end; nor can | speak of one organ
or class of organs without drawing up
on pre-supposcd knowledge of the
functions of other organs.
/ wish to return now to the question.
How do the muscles move the bones?
How does our machinery work? III
we examine it more carefully, we shall
find that each bundle of muscular
fibre is supplied with arteries and veins
and each fibre with two nervous fila
ments, one of which is telegraph line
to inform the brain when that muscu-
lar fibre is injured. Put that telegraph
wire out Of order and the flesh may be
cut or burned without our knowledge;
provided we have no eyes.
The other nervous filament is not a
news-carricr, but an embodiment of
the idea. some people entertain, of a
line, in the next century, which will
take men and baggage through the air
as the telegraph now carries news
This filancnt carries a somcthing-l
don't know what it is, but we call it
nervous fluid or stimulous, from the
brain to the muscle; and this stimulus
has the power of contracting or short
hening the muscle which makes the
homes approach each other. AS the
stimulus is Withdrawn the muscles
lenAhen again:-and this is the Ply
losdbhy of motion.
Some of the muscles are under the
control of the will, rs those which
move the hands and feet; others parti-
ally so, as the muscles used in winkins
while a more important class, God has
reserved i'll his own keeping, lest we,
through Incidence, leave off breathing
or through forgctlulness, cease to keep
our hearts beating.
The muscles may or may not, be
very poreJm machines. In order to
make them powerful they must be ed
ucated The blacksmith educates the
muscles of his arm and they increase
in size and strength. The student
uses his arm but little and it becomes
soft and incapable of long and efficient
labor. The farmer, from the great
variety of movements required in his
employment, might, it would seem,
have a better trained muscular system
than one in any other profession
He would have, j. exercise was all
that is required; but we find that rest
must alternate with exercise. Pro.
tracted exercise weakens instead oil
strengthening the muscles.
The muscles are supplied with veins
and arteries. These are not without a
purpose, and we assume at once that
the muscles should be supplied with
pure blood. Exercise increases the
flow of blood to the muscles;-and
when we come to examine the circula.
tory system, we shall find that to max,
pure blood we must breath pure air
hence we see the advantage of exercis,
in the open air. Exercise in impur,
air, so far from strengthening the mus
clcs enfeebles them. If the muscles ar,
compressed the exercise only increase,
the injury; hence another argument il
favor of dressing loosely. Exercis,
should be taken in the light. Plant.
tha. have grown in the dark have :