MIND IS FUNCTION 181 



swimming; man subdues beasts of burden, builds ve- 

 hicles, utilizes the natural power of heat, or electricity, 

 to carry himself, his food, and clothing from place to 

 place. These differences in the methods of bipeds and 

 quadrupeds are largely the result of man's acquired 

 erect position, and his acquired intelligence. This posi- 

 tion modified the anatomy and physiology of the whole 

 human organism. The arms became shorter and un- 

 adapted to an arboreal life. The hands retained their 

 prehensile power, but the feet lost their power of 

 grasping the limbs of trees. The feet gradually flat- 

 tened on the soles, and calves developed on the lower 

 legs, adapting them to support, and steady, the body 

 in the upright position. These changes contributed to 

 the better defense from enemies, and the power to cap- 

 ture other animals for food, by throwing a missile with 

 steadier and surer aim. 



The upright position, also, gives a longer reach to 

 vision, and must have modified the anatomy and hence 

 the physiology of the lungs and throat. It is reason- 

 able to suppose, it made possible articulate speech. The 

 anatomist should be able to vertify this anatomically. 

 But it is scarcely possible, that if man had continued, 

 to the present time a quadruped, he could have acquired 

 the function of articulation of words, in the way words 

 are now used. The modifications that took place, in 

 the anatomy of the human being, after he assumed 

 the upright position, by the laws of equilibration, 

 reached the anatomy, and through that the function, 

 of every organ, and every part of the body. The 

 muscles of the throat and neck must have been modi- 

 fied profoundly, because the forelegs, which by the 

 erect position became the arms, are attached to the 

 body so near the neck. It is most probable, that the 



