THE MUSCLES. 93 



hands I"* In general we may remark in how small a de- 

 gree those who enjoy the perfect use of their organs know 

 the comprehensiveness of the blessing, the variety of their 

 obligation. They perceive a result, but they think little 

 of the multitude of concurrences and rectitudes which go to 

 form it. 



Besides these observations, which belong to the muscular 

 organ as such, we may notice some advantages of structure 

 which are more conspicuous in muscles of a certain class or 

 description than in others. Thus, 



I. The variety, quickness, and precision of which muscu- 

 lar motion is capable are seen, I thinlt, in no part so remark- 

 ably as in the tongue. It is worth any man's while to 

 watch the agility of his tongue, the wonderful promptitude 

 with which it executes changes of position, and the perfect 

 exactness. Each syllable of articulated sound requires for 

 its utterance a specific action of the tongue, and of the parts 

 adjacent to it. The disposition and configuration of the 

 mouth appertaining to every letter and word is not only 

 peculiar, but, if nicely and accurately attended to, percepti- 

 ble to the sight ; insomuch that curious persons have availed 

 themselves of tins circumstance to teach the deaf to speak, 

 and to understand what is said by others. In the same per- 

 son, and after his habit of speaking is formed, one, and only 

 one position of the parts will produce a given articulate sound 

 correctly. How instantaneously are these positions assumed 

 and dismissed ; how numerous are the permutations — how 

 various, yet how infallible I Arbitrary and antic variety is 

 not the thing we admire ; but variety obeying a rule, con- 

 ducing to an effect, and commensurate with exigencies infi- 

 nitely diversified. I believe also that the anatomy of the 

 tongue corresponds with these observations upon its activity. 

 The muscles of the tongue are so numerous, and so inipli- 



* Plate III., Fig. 4. A profile of this muscle in its natural posi 

 tion. It arises within the orbit, and is inserted by abroad tendon intc 

 the upper eyelid, which it elevates. 



