THE HUMAN RACE 1691 



which applies itself in so admirable a manner to the 

 most different surfaces whose extent, form, or quali- 

 ties we wish to ascertain! 



"Man alone," says Galen, "is furnished with hands, 

 as he alone is a participator in wisdom. The hand is 

 a most marvelous instrument, and one most admi- 

 rably adapted to his nature. Remove his hand, and 

 man can no longer exist. By its means he is prepared 

 for defence or attack, for peace or war. What need 

 has he of horns or talons? With his hand, he grasps 

 the sword and lance, he fashions iron and steel. 

 While with horns, teeth, and talons animals can only 

 attack or defend at close quarters, man is able to pro- 

 ject from afar the instruments with which he is 

 armed. Shot from his hand, the feathered arrow 

 reaches at a great distance the heart of an enemy, or 

 stops the flight of a passing bird. Although man is 

 less agile than the horse and the deer, yet he mounts 

 the horse, guides him, and thus successfully hunts 

 the deer. He is naked and feeble, yet his hand pro- 

 cures him a covering of iron and steel. His body is 

 unprotected against the inclemencies of climate, yet 

 his hand finds him a convenient abode, and furnishes 

 him with clothing. By the use of his hand, he gains 

 dominion and mastery over all that lives upon the 

 earth, in the air, or in the depths of the sea. 



The sense of hearing, without attaining in man the 

 perfection which it reaches in certain animals, is 

 nevertheless of great delicacy, and becomes an in- 

 finite resource of instruction and pure enjoyment. 

 Not only are differences of intonation, intensity, and 

 timbre recognized by our ear, but the most delicate 



