of the Human Uterus. 77 



But, to fill up the measure of this singular philosophy, 

 the lecturer declares, that, althougn the man of the civi- 

 lized world has lost much of his original strength, "the 

 circular muscles, the heart and intestines, as far as we 

 can determine, have lost nothing of their primitive pow- 

 ers." Now, if the circulation, which depends on the 

 heart, and the digestion, the office of the alimentary ca- 

 nal, be in the vigour they were in during the days of 

 our first parents, the man of the civilized world cannot 

 have fallen off much. Where there is a vigorous circu- 

 lation, and strong digestive powers, the muscular ener- 

 gies of the body cannot be low. I allude to those mus- 

 cular energies (I believe the long, straight muscles to be 

 concerned) which qualify the Hibernian, in proud con- 

 tempt, to poise his shilelah, the nervous Englishman to 

 shake the very walls of the theatre of pugilism with 

 loud huzzas, when he has pushed his unequal antago- 

 nist on some unresisting spot ; which qualified the proud 

 Roman to project the coit, or throw the javelin ; the 

 alert Greek, covered with sweat and dust, to carry off the 

 prize in the gymnastic circles ; or brawny American to 

 turn, in coarse exultation, from his fallen competitor. 



The doctrine of the circular muscles is new ; I am 

 not prepared to receive or admit it. I believe it to be 



hard-working woman of the city, and the laborious of the country, 

 are the civilized ; and the delicate, refined lady of the city is the un- 

 civilized woman. Brydone certainly did not add to the facility of 

 birth with the Sicilian women, that they were also " savages." In 

 the Museum, all the advantages are with the lady of the city. In the 

 essay, she has lost every thing "by civilization and refinement." 

 See p. 43, &c. 



