222 NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



V. 



OF THE SPINE. 



The spine is the most perfect structure in the 

 whole animal machine. Perhaps, if our words 

 were critically taken, it would be better to say, 

 that the intention of the curious mechanical struc- 

 ture here was the most apparent, and on that ac- 

 count most the object of our admiration. By the 

 skeleton is meant the collection of bones which 

 gives form and strength to the superior class of 

 animals ; and as these bones are bound together 

 by a chain of vertebrae, the w^hole class of these 

 animals is called vertehrata, from this most essen- 

 tial part of the skeleton. Besides thus binding 

 the bones together, and forming, as it w^ere, the 

 very centre of the whole, the spine is a tube for 

 protecting the most vital organ of all, the spinal 

 marrow. But, again, when we look upon the 

 skeleton of man as giving him the power of stand- 

 ing erect, we observe that the spine, whilst it re- 

 tains its other offices, has a new one imposed upon 

 it : it is a pillar for sustaining not only the superior 

 parts of the body, but the globe of the head, which 

 we shall find it protects in a very unexpected 

 manner. The reason of our admiration then, is 

 in being able to perceive the modes by which these 



