72 EAR. 



chian tube, which is a slender pipe sufficient to 

 conduct the air, and which leads from the inside of 

 the barrel to the back part of the mouth. 



B. How wonderful to notice the many particulars 

 wherein our own ingenuity has been anticipated in 

 the contrivances of nature ! 



T. Do we discover any provision in the structure 

 of the ear, to guard against the dangers to which it is 

 exposed ? 



A. The hairs which are placed at its entrance, 

 together with the cerumen or wax within the cavity, 

 prevent the introduction of foreign bodies, such, for 

 example, as grains of sand, dust, insects, &c. 



B. Then it must be cruel to remove this hair, as 

 is practised upon some dumb creatures. 



T. I presume you speak of the horse. The loss 

 of this protection no doubt occasions much suffering 

 to the poor animal. He has no means, like our- 

 selves, of removing obstructions from the ear; and 

 therefore should not be deprived of any natural 

 security. 



B. I do not see but that the organ of hearing is 

 as admirably contrived as the eye, notwithstanding it 

 is said to be so obscure. Perhaps we may still say 

 of this organ, however, as of the eye, that the most 

 striking demonstration of a designing intelligence is 

 its relation and necessity to our other faculties. " It 

 enables us to hold communion with our fellow crea- 

 tures, to inspire and exalt our understandings, by the 

 mutual interchange of ideas, and thus to increase the 

 circle not only of our physical but our moral relations, 



