When a muscle ceases to contract, it becomes the seat of phenomena
precisely opposite to the preceding, which it is sufficient to know in
order to understand these. The muscle becomes longer and softer; its
wrinkles disappear; it returns exactly to the state in which it was
found. It is needless to give in detail the series of these phenomena.
I would remark that in the state of relaxation of the muscles, the
parts often execute motions which are only owing to their weight; such
are the flexion forwards of the head in sleep, the fall of the fore-arm
and the arm in the same case. Then the weight is often opposed to the
limbs, remaining in their middle position, which are not supported. We
see particularly these phenomena in paralysis.