WALKlNfc BLINDFOLDED. 



foot ; secondly, the hip, knee and ancle joints of the other- 

 limb are all a little bent this shortens the limb and raises 

 the heel ; thirdly, the thigh is still more bent on the hip 

 this carries the whole limb forward; fourthly, the knee and 

 ancle joints are straightened ; fifthly, the foot is brought 

 to the ground, the heel touching first and then the toes. 

 To effect the latter motion, the pelvis roils upon the 

 other thigh, which continues immoveable, carrying along 

 with it that side of the body, in the same direction with 

 the limb that is moved. Thus far no progression has 

 been made, because the other part of the step, the bring- 

 ing up the foot that is behind, is not completed. To do 

 this supposing the left limb is behind and the right in 

 advance the left side of the trunk is carried round 

 towards the right and a little forward at the same time, 

 by the right hip rolling on the right thigh this motion 

 throws the weight of the body on the right limb, which 

 is firmly and completely extended, excepting the ancle 

 joint ; secondly, the joints in the left limb, which is now 

 perfectly straight and touching only at the toes, are all 

 bent this carries the limb forwards and brings it to the 

 ground, in the same way as the former was. 



Emily. In this manner, the body does not advance 

 iu a straight line, but by a series of oblique lines running 

 between two parallels from one to the other, producing 

 a zig-zag course. 



Dr. B. And in order that these oblique movements 

 may be equal to one another, so as not to carry the body 

 out of the straight direction, our constant attention is re- 

 quired. Did you never observe how irregular a per- 

 son's course is, when walking blind-folded ? 



Emily. I have seen persons attempt to walk from 

 one end of a field to the other blind-folded, but with one 

 or two exceptions, they were always brought up by the 

 fence at the sides ; sometimes they even turned com- 

 pletely round, and came back to the very spot whence 

 >they started. It seems to be quite impossible with the 

 19* 



