CONDITIONS OF HEALTH IN BONES. 161 



support must necessarily result. Early infancy 

 affords an instance of both imperfections ; the bone 

 being infirm, and the muscles small and destitute of 

 true fleshy fibres. The diseased state, called molli- 

 ties ossium, or softness of the bones, is an instance 

 of what may be called a weak mast of the body, 

 which must yield if its muscles be strongly drawn. 

 The state of muscular debility consequent on fever 

 and many acute diseases, or even on sudden fright, 

 is, on the other hand, an instance of the inability of 

 the bones alone to preserve an attitude, or execute 

 motion, when the muscular system is weakened by 

 disease. These differences merit attention. 



In the regular order of nature, the maturity and 

 perfection of all organs and functions are attained 

 at the precise time at which each is required. The 

 bones of the infant are soft, vascular, cartilaginous, 

 full of life, aud vigorous in growth ; but having no en- 

 ergetic motions to perform, they possess little power 

 of solid resistance. In accordance with this con- 

 dition of the bones, the muscles which move them 

 are small, gelatinous, imperfectly fibrous, and little 

 capable of powerful contraction. If the bones had 

 been made solid and heavy from the beginning, 

 they would not only have been inert and cumbrous 

 masses, destitute of muscles to put them in motion ; 

 but, from being less vascular and less alive, they 

 could not have grown with the rapidity necessary 

 to adapt themselves to the growth of the other parts 

 of the system. If, on the other hand, powerful 

 muscles had existed from the first, they would have 

 served only to twist the soft and yielding bones into 

 fantastic shapes. Or, if both solid bones and strong 

 muscles had been given from birth, then a complete 

 power of locomotion would have been the result, 

 which from the absence of intellect and of know- 

 ledge of the external world to direct it, would have 

 led to incessant evils, if not to speedy destruction. 

 But as things are arranged, the most profound wis- 



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