THE STORY OF THE BODY'S CONSTITUTION 5 



fundamental rule of science that structures with 

 which we are born are those we share in common 

 with lower animals, whereas conformations which 

 appear later on in life, are to be regarded as 

 specially human. We see the application of this 

 doctrine in the case of the curves of the spine. 

 Man develops these curves after birth in relation to 

 his assumption of the erect posture, and such curves 

 therefore must be regarded as distinctly human in 

 character. Again, the shape of man's haunch or 

 pelvis, and the manner in which the thigh bones are 

 jointed thereon, indicate a distinctive adaptation to 

 the erect posture, as also does the manner of articula- 

 tion or joining of the end of the thigh bone with the 

 leg. When we come to consider man's feet we again 

 find a special modification for the erect posture. The 

 sole of the foot is broadened out, and the heel bone 

 is especially prominent more prominent indeed in 

 man, having regard to the length of the feet and 

 size of body, than in any other animal. The heel 

 bone, it will readily be understood, forms an effective 

 fulcrum or support for the body in the erect posi- 

 tion, and prevents any tendency to over-balancing 

 in the backward direction. Such are a few of the 

 anatomical characteristics peculiar to man. If 

 we considered the case of man's brain and his 

 mental attributes, we should discover other and 

 even greater differences between him and his 

 nearest animal relations. Although man's brain is 

 built up on a general type which is found to run 

 through the brains of all back-boned animals, he 

 nevertheless has more highly developed than in any 

 other creatures certain brain regions, especially the 

 frontal or forehead region of the brain which is 

 now recognised to be the seat of the higher brain 



