MASTICATION. Ill 



cation with those of other animals, we may remark in the 

 first place, that man has neither the canine instruments 

 of the carnivora, nor the cropping incisores of the herbiv- 

 orous tribes. Neither are his grinders pointed like the 

 first, or smooth and extended on the surface like the last. 

 But notwithstanding the want of those prominent and 

 decisive features, by which the teeth point out in so re- 

 markable a manner, the kind of subsistence to which each 

 class of other animals is confined, still this very want of 

 coincidence is a decided characteristic of the habits and 

 propensities of man with respect to his food. 



321. Having neither the instruments which are best 

 fitted for tearing raw flesh, nor those which are proper for 

 cropping grass, his organs of mastication are intermediate 

 between these, and are better constructed than either for 

 the breaking down of semi-hard bodies, or those of mode- 

 rate cohesion. In the mild or savage state the teeth of 

 man would hardly be sufficient for the services which we 

 might suppose would be required of them ; though in 

 this as in other cases, the organs concerned would un- 

 doubtedly be strengthened in some proportion to the 

 power required ; hence the masticating muscles of sav- 

 ages, who take their food without cooking, are far more 

 powerful than ours. It is clear, however, that the masti- 

 cating organs of man were not intended for such a mode 

 of life, but on the contrary, that the Creator designed 

 that he should employ a portion of his faculties in modi- 

 fying and preparing the natural productions of the earth . 

 for his food. This is proved most clearly from the struct- 

 ure both of his masticating and digestive organs. 



322. It is true that man, in his natural or savage state, 

 has the power of digesting many substances in the condi- 

 tion of natural productions, and this habit, through neces- 

 sity, may be acquired by the most civilized. There are 

 also certain vegetables, as ripe fruits, which, in their natu- 

 ral condition, are easy of digestion, and are coveted as 

 delicacies among all classes, whether savage or civilized. 







How do our teeth compare with those of other animals ? Are the teeth 

 of man constructed to talte food in its natural state ? What is the con- 

 clusion ? 



