CHAPTER IV 



DESIGN SHOWN IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE 

 BONES AND JOINTS OF THE EXTREMITIES 



THAT the bones, which form the interior of 

 animal bodies, should have the most perfect shape, 

 combining strength and lightness, ought not to 

 surprise us, when we find this in the lowest vege- 

 table production. 



In the sixteenth century, an unfortunate man 

 who taught medicine, philosophy, and theology, 

 was accused of atheistical opinions, and con- 

 demned to have his tongue cut out, and to suffer 

 death. When brought from his cell before the 

 Inquisition, he was asked if he believed in God. 

 Picking up a straw which had stuck to his gar- 

 ments, " If," said he, " there was nothing else in 

 nature to teach me the existence of a Deity, even 

 this straw would be sufficient ! ' 



A reed, or a quill, or a bone, may be taken to 

 prove that in Nature's works strength is given 

 with the least possible expense of materials. The 

 long bones of animals are, for the most part, 

 hollow cylinders, filled up with the lightest sub- 

 stance, marrow ; and in birds the object is attained 



