90 ANIMAL MECHANICS 



slight irregularity in his training will have a sen- 

 sible effect on his speed. Shall the possibility of 

 pecuniary loss excite the jockey to more care for 

 his horse than we, in our rational and humane 

 attention to the education of our youth, pay to 

 their health and safety ? 



In reflecting on these many proofs of design in 

 the animal body, it must excite our surprise that 

 anatomy is so little cultivated by men of science. 

 We crowd to see a piece of machinery or a new 

 engine, but neglect to raise the covering which 

 would display in the body the most striking 

 proofs of design, surpassing all art in simplicity 

 and effectiveness, and without anything useless 

 or superfluous. 



A more important deduction from the view of 

 the animal structure is, that our conceptions of 

 the perfection and beauty in the design of nature 

 are exactly in proportion to the extent of our 

 capacity. We are familiar with the mechanical 

 powers, and we recognize the principles in the 

 structure of the animal machine ; and in propor- 

 tion as we understand the principles of hydro- 

 statics and hydraulics, are able to discern the 

 most beautiful adaptation of them in the vessels 

 of an animal body. But when, to our further 

 progress in anatomy, it is necessary that we should 

 study a matter so difficult as the theory of life, 



