228 NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



from the body : there is, therefore, at the lowest 

 part of the neck a sweep or semicircle formed by 

 the junction of several vertebrae, to permit the 

 head to be erected ; a remarkable example of 

 which is shown in the stag. 



We have elsewhere observed, that when a 

 delicate piece of mechanism is contrived by the 

 hands of man it may be locked up and preserved. 

 But the most delicate textures of the living frame 

 stand distinguished, above all, by this quality, 

 that if they be not put to use, they very quickly 

 degenerate. Not only is the faculty of action 

 lost by inaction, as every one must be aware takes 

 place in the functions of his own mind, and in 

 the exercise of his senses, but the texture of the 

 organs quickly degenerates. If by accident a 

 Hmb should lose certain movements, the muscles, 

 nerves, vessels, which nature intended to be sub- 

 servient to these motions, become in a few weeks 

 or months so wasted that they are hardly re- 

 cognisable by the anatomist. If we apply this 

 acknowledged principle to the spine, and take 

 along with us that the texture of bone, cartilage, 

 ligament, tendon, muscle, all the parts which 

 enter into its structure and are necessary to its 

 perfection, however varying in solidity or compo- 

 sition, retain their perfection by being exercised, 

 we shall readily perceive the effect of confinement 

 on young females. Without any positive disease, 

 but from being over-educated in modes which 

 require sedentary application, the spine becomes 



