74 NATURAL THEOLOGT. 



distant on eacli side from the middle line of the back. When 

 the vertebrae are put together, these notches, exactly fitting, 

 form small holes, through which the nerves at each articu- 

 lation issue out in pairs, in order to send their branches to 

 ever) part of the body, and with an equal bounty to both 

 sides of the body. The fourth purpose assigned to the same 

 instrument is the insertion of the bases of the muscles, and 

 the support of the ends of the ribs ; and for this fourth pur- 

 pose, especially the former part of it, a figure specifically 

 suited to the design, and unnecessary for the other purposes, 

 is given to the constituent bones. While they are plain 

 and round and smooth towards the front, where any rough- 

 ness or projection might have wounded the adjacent viscera, 

 they run out behind, and on each side into long processes ; 

 to which processes the muscles necessary to the motions of 

 the trunk are fixed, and fixed with such art, that while the 

 vertebras supply a basis for the muscles,^ the muscles help to 

 keep these bones in their position, or by their tendons to tie 

 them together. 



That most important, however, and general property, 

 namely, the strength of the compages, and the security 

 against luxation, was to be still more specially consulted ; 

 for where so many joints were concerned, and where in 

 every one, derangement would have been fatal, it became 

 a subject of studious precaution. For tliis purpose the ver- 

 tebrae are articulated, that is, the movable joints between 

 them are formed by means of those projections of their sub- 

 stance which we have mentioned under the name of process- 

 es, and these so lock in with and overwrap one another as 

 to secure the body of the vertebra not only from accidentally 

 slipping, but even from being pushed out of its place by any 

 violence short of that w^hich would break the bone. I have 

 often remarked and admired this structure in the chine of a 

 hare. In this, as in many instances, a plain observer of the 

 animal economy may spare himself the disgust of being pres- 

 ent at human dissections, and yet learn enough for his infer 



