Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.
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laterally, over both the dorsal and lumbar portions of the spine; while the sacro-lumbahs, acting from the broad edge of the pelvis as a fixed point, powerfully draws the body over laterally, as well as exerts a lateral effect on the whole lumbar region. Effects of Electricity on the Fibre-cells in the Living Person. Extensive researches have been made to determine the precise action or function of muscular fibre-cells, and the effects of electricity upon them. The action is peculiar. The distin- guishing characteristic between the actions of animal muscular fibre, and organic contractile fibre-cells, when under the in- fluence of electric currents, is, that the former respond promptly, while the latter respond only after an interval, and that deliber- ately. This was ascertained by Dr. Nysten, during the first French Revolution, when the guillotine furnished him most ample opportunities for just such observations. More recently, Pro- Fig. 67. Muscular Fibres — magnified 600 diameters. 1. Is a Muscular Fibre of Animal Life enclosed in its sheath of myolemma; this is a voluntary muscle fibre. 2. Is an Ultimate Fibril of the same, highly magnified. 3. A more highly magnified view of No. 1, showing the true nature of the Longitudi- nal Strife, as well as the mode of arrangement and formation of the transverse Strice. The myolemma is so thin as to permit the ultimate fibrils of molecules to be seen through it. 4. Shows a Muscular Fibre of organic life, with two of its nuclei, taken from the mus- cular coat of the human urinary bladder, and magnified 600 diameters. 5. Shows again a Muscular Fibre of organic life, from the muscular coat of the stom- ach, magnified the same. 24