17 



oblique processes of each superior and inferior verte. 

 bra, keep the middle one, that it can neither be thrust 

 backwards nor forwards to compress the medulla spi- 

 nalis. 



The pelvis made in the belly by the illium, ossa 

 eoxendicis, and pubis, is larger in a female than in a 

 male skeleton, that there may be more room for the 

 laying of the viscera and foetus. So the cartilage bra- 

 cing together the two sharebones, is twice thicker and 

 laxer in women than in men. As also is the cartilage 

 that ties the os sacrum to its vertebra; and all, to give 

 way to the passage of the foetus. 



Another considerable difference is, in the cartila- 

 ginous production of the seven long ribs, whereby 

 they are braced to the breasUbonc. These are harder 

 and firmer in women than in men ; the better to 

 support the weight of the breasts, the sucking infants, 

 fcc. 



It is remarkable in the joints, and a manifest act 

 of caution and design, 1. That although the motion 

 of the limbs be circular, yet the centre of that mo- 

 tiori is not in a point, but an ample superficies. In a 

 point, the bones would wear and penetrate one ano- 

 ther, and the joints would be exceeding weak. But 

 the joint consisting of two large superficies, concave 

 and convex, some furrowed and ridged, some like a, 

 ball and socket, and all lubricated with an oily sub- 

 stance ; they are incomparably prepared both for 

 motion and strength, 2. That the bones next the 

 joints are not spungy, as rheir extremities commonly 

 are, nor hard and brittle; but capped with a strong, 

 tough, smooth, cartilaginous substance, serving both 

 for strength and motion. 



For a (fording this oily matter there are glandules 

 very commodiousiy placed near the joints, so as not 

 to suffer too great compression by the motion of the 

 neighbouring bones, and yet to receive a due pressure, 

 to cause a stiilicicnt emission of the oil into the joints. 

 Another thing considerable is, that the excretory 

 ducts of the mucilaginous glamls have some length in, 



