NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



105 



yet flexible; (now, I know no chain made by art 

 which is both these ; for by firmness I mean, not 

 only strength but stability ;) firm, to support the 

 erect position of the body ; flexible, to allow of the 

 bending of the trunk in all degrees of curvature. 

 It was further also (which is another and quite a 

 distinct purpose from the rest,) to become a pipe 

 or conduit for the safe conveyance from the brain 

 of the most important fluid of the animal frame, 

 that, namely, upon which all voluntary motion 

 depends, the spinal marrow; a substance not only 

 of the first necessity to action, if not to life, but of 

 a nature so delicate and tender, so susceptible and 

 so impatient of injury, as that any unusual pressure 

 upon it, or any considerable obstruction of its 

 course, is followed by paralysis or death. 



[This represents a section of three of the lower vertelii ae. Tlic 

 subject being by no means exhausted in the text, the reader will 

 find it taken up in the Appendix.] 



