ARGUMENT OF DESIGN 103 



mathematical laws capable of being expressed in technical 

 terms. The question then arises : What was the primary 

 origin of " Natural " Mathematics and Geometry ; of the 

 natural laws of Physics and Chemistry? Are they all 

 self-existent and self-caused ? 



What is the difference between the amount of pro- 

 babilities of the pre-existence of an Intelligent Power, 

 and those of blind forces producing those laws of com- 

 binations of numbers in mathematics ; or of vibrations of 

 Sound-producing Air and of Light-producing Ether or of 

 Light itself in producing colours only appreciable by an 

 eye ? 



In chapter viii. Paley describes the mechanical action 

 of the human bones and alludes to that of the elbow. He 

 says : " In the fore-arm, for the perfect use of the limb, 

 two motions are wanted ; a motion at the elbow backward 

 and forward which is called a reciprocal motion, and a 

 rotatory motion, by which the palm of the hand, as occasion 

 requires, may be turned upward. How is this managed ? 

 The fore-arm consists of two bones, lying alongside each 

 other, but touching only towards the ends. One, and 

 only one, of these bones is joined to the cubit, or upper 

 part of the arm, at the elbow ; the other alone to the 

 hand at the wrist. The first, by means at the elbow of 

 a hinge -joint (which allows only of motion in the same 

 plane) swings backward and forward, carrying along 

 with it the other bone, and the whole fore-arm. In the 

 meantime, as often as there is occasion to turn the palm 

 upward, that other bone to which the hand is attached 

 rolls upon the first, by the help of a groove or hollow near 

 each end of one bone, to which is fitted a corresponding 

 prominence in the other. If both bones had been joined 

 to the cubit or upper arm at the elbow, or both to the 

 hand at the wrist, the thing could not have been done. 



