Chap. a8.] Ufa of Nerves; 29$ 



nerves pafs through the pofterior openings of the os 

 facrum, which are diftributed on the hips and neigh- 

 bouring mufcles. 



Nerves may more properly be faid to be connected 

 v/ith the brain than to be produced from it, fmce 

 foetufes have been born with a brain not larger 

 than a hazel nut, and yet with nerves of the ufual 

 fize. 



The ufes of the nerves are very important, but are 

 bell difcovered from obferving the effect of their ab- 

 fence. When a nerve is cut or tied, the part to which 

 it belonged is inftantly deprived of fenfation, and the 

 will has no longer any command over it. The nerves 

 are therefore the inftruments of fenfation, and the or- 

 gans by means of which the brain maintains a com- 

 munication with the moil diftant parts of the body. 



After having conndered the flruclure of the differ- 

 ent parts of the human body, can we refrain from 

 paufing a few moments to contemplate fo wonderful a 

 fabric ? But man is only a fingle inftance of the wif- 

 dom of Providence; every part of the world contains 

 animals, the flructure of which is not lefs complex 

 than our own, and the conftitutions of which are fuited 

 to the climates they inhabit. All of them are furnifhed 

 Vf'ith organs for their fubfiftence, their defence, and their 

 enjoyment, and thefe organs are adapted to their ,feve- 

 ral neceflitiesj and have correfponding relations in the 

 objects, as well animate as inanimate, which furround 

 them. Not only the furface of the earth, however^ but 

 the atmofphere, the ocean, the herbage, the foil, teeiu 

 \vith the animal creation. How far this fyftem may 

 extend we know not ; but obfervation has hitherto con- 

 tinually enlarged out profpects, without marking a 

 fingle limit ; and it is not improbable, that the animal 

 which dwells oft the body of another, may itfelf be a 

 U 2 theatre 



