18 HEAD. 



he. , are all constructed upon the same principle. 

 This is not only the general form of the case which 

 has to cover and protect the brain ; but, wonderful to 

 think, the head is most rounded precisely in those 

 places, where, in falling, it would be most likely to 

 strike the ground. These are, the middle of the fore- 

 head, the projecting part of the head behind, and the 

 upper portions upon each side, or those least protect- 

 ed by the shoulders. Anatomists also observe, that 

 just in those situations where a carpenter strength- 

 ens his roofs by braces, there the roof of the skull 

 will be found to be strengthened by strong ridges of 

 bone on the inside, which answer the same purpose. 



B. Any one may perceive, that the round form of 

 the head is the most beautiful, but few, it is probable, 

 have ever thought of any other advantage. 



T. But this is a small part of the wisdom dis- 

 played in this wonderful structure. 



A. The skull is a double case ; and may be com- 

 pared to two bowls, one within the other. The outer 

 bowl is a tough and woody kind of bone. The inner 

 bowl is of a much more hard and brittle texture: 

 anatomists give it the name of vitreous, from a Latin 

 word which signifies glass. What completes the con- 

 trivance, there lies between, a corky, spongy kind of 

 bone, anatomists call it the diploe, — and each of these 

 particulars has its advantage. Our kind Architect 

 seems to have contemplated several distinct securities 

 in this structure, which are made necessary by differ- 

 ent and not infrequent dangers to which we are expo- 

 sed. It is readily seen, that one familiar danger is, 



