. 122 MECHANISM OF THE MUSCLES. 



indolent and effeminate habits. The muscles by 

 which the joints are compressed and kept in their 

 right position become relaxed ; the consequence of 

 which is, that the bones are gradually displaced, and 

 produce deformity. The curvature of the spine and 

 shoulders is supposed to be often owing to this cause; 

 and hence exercise and active employments are now 

 principally recommended to correct any such tenden- 

 cy, especially in those young persons who are in pe- 

 culiar danger of so serious an evil, from the greater 

 delicacy of their system, and more sedentary and re- 

 tired habits. We very rarely observe any such im- 

 perfection among the laboring classes. 



Anatomists notice a remarkable attention to me- 

 chanical principles, in the situation of the muscles, 

 and the manner in which they are applied to move 

 the limbs. 



A. First, there are always muscles where the 

 bone would admit of any motion, but no where be- 

 sides ; that is, in all the five hundred and twenty-sev- 

 en muscles, there is not one mislaidj or rendered 

 useless by its situation ; there is not one which pulls 

 against the joint without effect ; and further, there is 

 not a single motion of which the form of the bone and 

 joint will admit, but there is a muscle or set of mus- 

 cles provided to produce that motion. This admir- 

 able harmony is one of the most striking evidences 

 of an Intelligent Architeect. It is the same as in 

 examining the rigging of a ship, to find through all 

 the intricacy of the tackle, every rope suited to its 

 place. 



