VOL. LXXVIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TBANSACTIONS. 48/ 



of the abdominal viscera, each of them preserving its proper relative situation to 

 the others. In the brain, organs of sense, of generation, the muscles, and blood 

 vessels of the extremities, was found nothing remarkable. 



The person seems to have used his right hand in preference to his left, as is 

 usually the case, which was readily discovered by the greater bulk, and hardness 

 of that hand, as well as the greater fleshiness of the arm. It was not indeed to 

 be expected he should be left handed. The person, while alive, was not 

 conscious of any uncommon situation of his heart; and his brother has his 

 heart pointing to the left side as in ordinary cases. Indeed, there was little reason 

 to expect that we should meet with any thing particular in the account of his 

 life. His health could not be affected by such a change of situation in his vis- 

 cera ; nor could there arise from it any peculiar symptoms of disease. Still less 

 could there be any connection between such a change and his dispositions, or 

 external actions. He might have known that his heart was directed towards the 

 right side; but if we consider how little every person, especially those of the 

 lower class, are attentive to circumstances not very palpable, it was scarcely to be 

 expected he should know of it. 



Notwithstanding the general similarity of parts in the same species of ani- 

 mals, there is no reason why nature should not sometimes deviate from her or- 

 dinary plans. Accordingly we find there is much variety in animal structure; 

 but this does not commonly affect the animal functions. Under this restriction 

 the variety is so great in the appearances of every part of an animal, that it is 

 almost impossible to examine any 2 animals of the same species without remark- 

 ing many differences. In the bony compages of an animal we find little variety 

 in the extremities of bones where there is the apparatus of a joint, because a par- 

 ticular shape is best adapted to a particular kind or latitude of motion. In other 

 parts of the bones, where a difference of features is not material, there is great 

 variety, as in the foramina, depressions, ridges, and sutures of bones. The 

 same general rule will apply to variety in muscles. The principal object is a cer- 

 tain insertion near a joint, so as to give a determined direction of motion. With 

 respect to such insertions, there is, comparatively speaking, little variety; but 

 there is a great difference in the bodies and connections of muscles, which have 

 no share in the regulation of the motion. 



There is no part of an animal where there is a greater latitude of variety than 

 in the distribution of blood vessels. The reason of it is very obvious. The only 

 object in the distribution of blood vessels is, to carry blood to every part of the 

 body, and bring it back to the heart. The parts of an animal, in order to be 

 supported, must be visited by successive changes of fresh blood; but it surely 

 cannot be an object of importance whether the blood passes by one rout or an- 

 other. Hence the variety of blood vessels is extremely great. Still however 



