288 APPENDIX. 



leg. Whereas, by this arrangement, the foot acts as a 



lever ; and by the action Fi ^ 130> 



of the muscles, lets the 



weight of the body come 



down gradually to the 



ground. 



923. But, notwith- 

 standing these easy mo- 

 tions of the foot, the whole 

 becomes exceedingly firm, 

 and fixed, when the weight of the body bears directly 

 upon it ; so that the bones of the leg will be fractured, 

 before those of the foot will be displaced, or will yield in 

 the least. With respect to the action of the muscles 

 connected with the foot, which are concerned in support- 

 ing the body in the upright position, Sir Charles Bell 

 speaks as follows : 



924. " The posture of a soldier under arms, when his 

 heels are close together, and his knees straight, is a con- 

 dition of painful restraint. Observe then the change in 

 his body and limbs, when he is ordered to l stand at ease ;' 

 the gun falls against his relaxed arms, the right knee is 

 thrown out, and the tension of the ankle-joint of the same 

 leg is relieved ; while he loses an inch and a half of his 

 height, and sinks down upon the left hip. This com- 

 mand to l stand at ease,' has a higher authority than the 

 general order. It is a natural relaxation of the muscles, 

 which are consequently relieved from a painful state of 

 exertion; and the weight of the body then bears so 

 upon the lower extremities, as to support the joints in- 

 dependently of muscular effort. The advantage of this 

 will be understood, when we consider that all the mus- 

 cular effort is made at the expense of a living power, 

 which, if excessive, will exhaust the man ; while the po- 

 sition of rest we are describing, is without effort, and 

 therefore gives perfect relief. And it is this which makes 

 boys and girls, who are out of health, and languid, 

 lounge too much in the position of relief, whence comes 

 permanent distortion." 



925. The standing position is as firm as possible, when 

 the two feet, directed forward on two parallel lines, are 

 separated by a space equal to one of them. If the base 



