Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/269

247&#93; MUS the following of which are the principal ; viz. 1 . The margaritiferus, or pe?rl- bearing muscle, having a com- pressed shell, the inside of which is exquisitely polished, resembling in whiteness and brilliancy the real pearl. After being divested of its external laminae, by aquafortis, and the lapidaries' mill, the outer part acquires a similar lustre. — This is the true mother-of-pearl shell, which is converted into various toys, such as snuft-boxes, buttons, spoons, &:c. 2. The ed'dis, or eatable mus- cle, which has a strong shell slight- ly curved on one side, and angu- lated on the other. It is found ii> immense beds, both in deep wa- ter, and above the low-water- mark, in the British seas. The muscle is not only perse- cuted by numerous enemies, in its own element^ but also subjeft to certain diseases, which have been conjedured to be the cause of le ill etlefts consequent on the eating of lh(-se shell-fish. There are two disorders of that tendency, which, by Dr. Mcehking, are termed the 7«o,vi and the scab. The former is occasioned by the roots of moss be- ing introduced into the shell, so that the water penetrates, and gra- dually dissolves the fish. The scuh is caused by tubercles, that are produced by the dissolution of the shell. Whatever may be the cause, it is well ascertained, that the eating of muscles has sometimes produced cutaneous eruptions ; restlessness and agitation j an insupportable itching throughout the whole body, together ith erysipelatous infiam- jnations. 1 he.se coinplaints, how- ever, may be easily removed by the liberal uie of oil; emelics; apd M U S [247 of mltk ; as they have In no in? stance proved mortal. The edible muscle, nevertheless, furnishes a rich food, though it b^ difficult of dige>>tion. Even in a sound and fresh state, it is to some constitutions hurtful ; and, if con- taminated by disease, it becomes, in some degree, poisonous. — A§ muscles are most detrimental • to healtli, when eaten nnv, it will always be advisable to boil them with oiiions ; but they should be previously washed with vinegar, and seasoned with pepper : thus qualified, they cannot be injurious, unless eaten to excess, or too frcr quently. AIUSCLE, in animal economy, a fleshy, fibrous part, destined to be the instrument or organ of mo- tion. A muscle is composed of a grea^t number of thin parallel plates, eacji of which is divieied into smalle;r fleshy threads or fibrc.'^, and in- closed in its proper cellular mem- brane. — The muscles are dividend into three parts, namely, the head, lelty, and tail : the first and lijird are firmly attached to the bone.s"j whereas the belly adheres loosely to other parts, by means of the cel- lular membrane which swells, when the muscle a6ts. Their substance is .fleshy in the middle, but tendin- ous or sinewy in the extremities : the fibres of the former are sen- sible and irritable, while those of the latter are destitute of all sen- sation. . All the muscles a6t, by the in- flation of their Lellies ; in conse- quence of which they are pqm- pressed or shortened. Thus, in muscular contraction, the move- able bone only is drawn in the cH- redion of theljbres, while the otl^er. bon?, 19 v.hich Uie muscle is jjt- 114 ■ tached.