VERTEBRAE AND LIGAMENTS. 213 



the ligament of the neck is attached to the vertebras 

 of the back. The preceding illustration takes the four 

 vertebras next in order. Fig. 1 shows how the verte- 

 bras are connected by ligaments, one set running above 

 and the other below, as seen at A and c ; fig. 2 gives 

 the front view of the tenth vertebra, and shows at B 

 the hole through which the spinal cord passes, and 

 on the floor of which rests another ligament. Fig. 3 

 is a diagrammatic representation of the vertebras 

 curved in action. 



There is yet another provision to ensure the 

 requisite elasticity. At each end of the ' body ' of 

 the vertebra there is a thick, rounded, and very 

 elastic pad of cartilage, as may be seen diagram- 

 matically shown at fig. 2 of the illustration on 

 page 214. At A, the vertebras are shown in their 

 natural position, the elastic pads being in contact, 

 and held together by the ligaments which have been 

 described. At B,B they are represented as compressed 

 to the utmost, so that their elasticity is practically 

 annulled. 



At fig. 1 is given a diagrammatic sketch showing 

 the analogy between the chain of vertebras and the 

 present mode of coupling railway carriages. 



When I used to go to school, in the days when 

 railways were almost in their infancy, second-class 

 carriages having only two ends and a roof but no 



