5S ON MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENT 



which the ribs are annexed to the spine. Each rib rests 

 upon two vertebrae. That is the thing to be remarked, 

 and any one may remark it in carving a neck of mutton. 

 The manner of it is this ; the end of the rib is divided by 

 a middle ridge into two surfaces, which surfaces are join- 

 ed to the bodies of two contiguous vertebrae, the ridge ap- 

 plying itself to the intervening cartilage. Now this is the 

 very contrivance which is employed in the famous iron 

 bridge at my door at Bishop-Wearmouth ; and for the same 

 purpose of stability ; viz. the cheeks of the bars, which pass 

 between the arches, ride across the joints, by which the 

 pieces composing each arch are united. Each cross bar 

 rests upon two of these pieces at their place of junction ; 

 and by that position resists, at least in one direction, any 

 tendency in either piece to slip out of its place. Thus 

 perfectly, by one means or the other, is the danger of slip- 

 ping laterally, or of being drawn aside out of the line of the 

 back provided against; and, to withstand the bones being 

 pulled asunder longitudinally, or in the direction of the 

 line, a strong membrane runs from one end of the chain to 

 the other, sufficient to resist any force which is ever likely 

 to act in the direction of the back, or parallel to it, and 

 consequently to secure the whole combination in their 

 places. The general result is, that not only the motions of 

 the human body necessary for the ordinary offices of life 

 are performed with safety, but that it is an accident hard- 

 ly ever heard of, that even the gesticulations of a harlequin 

 distort his spine. 



Upon the whole, and as a guide to those who may be in- 

 clined to carry the consideration of this subject further, 

 there are three views under which the spine ought to be 

 regarded, and in all which it cannot fail to excite our ad- 

 miration. These views relate to its articulations, its liga- 

 ments and its perforation ; and to the corresponding advan- 

 tages which the body derives from it, for action, for strength, 

 and for that, which is essential to every part, a secure com- 

 munication with the brain.* 



* It will be useful to append to the remarks of Dr. Paley upon the 

 mechanism of the spine and of other parts of the body, some observa- 

 tions by a very eminent anatomist and surgeon now living, who has 

 lately considered the subject of Animal Mechanism in its connexion 

 with Natural Theology, and has presented some striking and original 

 views. These observations have been published as one of the trea- 

 tises of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, which forms 

 the ninth number of the series. These extracts will be the more in- 

 structive^ as giving views of a professional observer in confirmation of 



