o28 HISTOliV OF 



shoulders, we the more easily raise the ribs likewise. It hap- 

 ])ens, therefore, in the sickly and the dying, who do not breathe 

 without labour, that to raise the ribs, they are obliged to call in 

 the assistance of the shoulders ; and thus their bodies assume, 

 from habit, that form which they are so frequently obliged to 

 assume. Women with child, also, are usually seen to be high- 

 shouldered ; for the weight of the inferior parts drawing down the 

 ribs, they are obliged to use every effort to elevate them, and thus 

 they raise their shoulders of course. During pregnancy, also, 

 the shape, not only of the shoulders, but also of the breast, and 

 even the features of the face, are greatly altered ; for the whole 

 upper fore-part of the body is covered with a broad thin skin, 

 called the myoides ; which being, at that time, drawn down, it 

 also draws down with it the skin, and, consequently, the features 

 of the face. By these means the visage takes a particular form ; 

 the lower eye-lids and the corners of the mouth, are drawn 

 downv.'ards ; so that the eyes are enlarged, and the mouth length- 

 ened : and women in these circumstances, are said by the mid- 

 wives, to be " all mouth and eyes." 



The arms of men but very little resemble the fore-feet or 

 quadrupeds, and much less the wings of birds. The ape is the 

 only animal that is possessed of hands and iu'ms; but these are 

 much more rudely fashioned, and with less exact proportion, than 

 in men ; " the thumb not being so well opposed to the rest of 

 the fingers, in their hands, as in ours." 



The form of the back is not much different in man from that 

 of other quadruped animals, only that the reins are more muscu- 

 lar in him, and stronger. The buttock, however, in man, is dif- 

 ferent from that of all other animals whatsoever. What goes 

 by that name in other creatures, is only the upper part of the 

 thigh ; man being the only animal that supports himself perfect- 

 ly erect, the largeness of this part is owing to the peculiarity of 

 his position. 



Man's feet, also, are different from those of all other animals, 

 tliose even of apes not excepted. The foot of the ape is rather 

 a kind of awkward hand ; its toes, or rather fingers, are long, and 

 that of the middle longest of all. This foot also wants the heel, 

 as in man ; the sole is narrov/er, and less adapted to maintain 

 tiic equilibrium of the body, in walking, dancing, or running. 



The nails are less in nuin than in any other animal. If they 



