•300 Proposal/or the Estalliskment of 



is liable to be disturbed or suspended by less injuries to the 

 brain than those which affect life. 



h. The Spine in its cavity is a long canal convey'ing' the 

 substance of the brairi thrpUgh a great part of the animal 

 form. Like the sk-ul!, it affords to its contents a firm h^ard 

 covering. Like tl«5 skull, it is variously perforated^ sending 

 forth rainlifc ramifications of brain. through all parts of the 

 •body. But, unlike the skull, it is curiou&lv adapted' to va- 

 rious motiQus; none of these motions, however, occasion 

 it to press at any' time on any of the fine branches of brain 

 which issue from its cavities. Wese not this circumstance 

 most.jinGe^ adjusted', every motion of the body would be 

 Irabfie to induce palsy, and to endanger life. 

 *''**The headrests immediately on the uppermost of the 

 j^fertebrne, and is united to it by a hinge joint, upon which 

 Joint the head plays freely forward and backward, as far 

 tiihc; \\:\\f as the' ligaments allow." — - 



■ " The strength of the compages, and the security against 

 luxation is an instance of wonderful contrivance. Where so 

 many joints arc concerned, and where in every one derange- 

 ment would be fatal, a peculiar protection is provided : the 

 vertebrae are articulated; that is, moveable joints between 

 them are formed by means of those projections called pro- 

 cesses, which so lock in with and overwrap one another as 

 to secure the body of the vertebra not only from accidental 

 slipping, but even frOrn being pushed out of its place by 

 any violence lessthan^tbat^iviiich- would break the bone." 



The relations of the spine to the subsistence of the indi-^ 

 vidual are nearly the same with those of the skull : it ig 

 further related to the well-being and comfort of animal life 

 by affording the facilities of motion. 



c. Rlhs. These are fixed by strong cartilages at one of 

 their*" ends to the vertebrae, at the other to the sternum. 

 Their relations to life and well-being are manik-st in their 

 adjustment to all the motions of the spine, in the remark- 

 able protection Vvhich they afford to the principal organs of 

 life, the heart and the lungs, and their peculiar adaptation 

 \o assist the nmvements of the latter. 



d,. The Pelvis being the centre of bodily motion, in the 



.bum^H 



