Animal Morphology. 135 



from which they originate namely, the brain. As already 

 indicated, the brain is here viewed as metamorphosed 

 musde. 



It may be asked, How was it that the brain came to be 

 adjudged as metamorphosed muscle ? 



To give the real reasons in full is almost impossible, as 

 one suggestion came from one source, and another from an 

 opposite source ; and through a long series of years suggestion 

 after suggestion will arise, which, when all are collated, lead 

 to some more or less general conclusion. This again wants 

 sifting and resifting, for the purpose of exhuming the dead 

 matter and retaining the living and true matter. 



For many years a general notion had existed, as before 

 stated, that our planetary system, and a very extensive 

 amount of our vital mechanics, were based upon a system of 

 evergency. The principle is so far carried out as to explain 

 or account for animals being organized and adjusted, that, 

 as symmetrical bodies, they are stronger on one side than the 

 other, or possess the greatest precision of motion on the 

 right side (which is, of course, most easily proved in man) ; 

 and that man, for instance, with the planets, in the order of 

 his motion, is in perfect harmony when naturally endowed, 

 or when he is right-handed, with this general principle of 

 evergency. 



For, let a man revolve upon his heel and follow his nose, 

 and not recede from it and go backwards way ; but let him 

 go forward and follow his nose which, by-the-bye, is rather a 

 homely form of expression he will invariably move in the 

 direction of the earth's axis, and the most active or right side 

 will be placed outwardly, and he will revolve on the left foot 

 from west to east, in the same direction in which the matter 

 of the earth has its greatest and least acceleration. 



In other words, the side of strength will be outwards, and 

 of weakness towards the centre of revolution, which is inwards. 



