BODY OF THE HOUSE. 59 



than twelve do not probably occur in one person 

 in a thousand. 



There is a notion prevailing in some parts 

 of the world I know not how it was first 

 started that man has one rib less on one side 

 than on the other. They say that as Eve was 

 formed of a rib taken from Adam's side, he 

 and all his male posterity have one rib the less 

 for it. I hardly need to say that this opinion 

 is wholly unfounded. 



BREAST BONE. I have just alluded to the 

 breast bone. The name of this, in books, is 

 the sternum. It has been usually considered 

 as only one bone ; but, like many others of the 

 human frame, in infancy and youth it consists 

 of several pieces (three in number) closely 

 united by gristle or cartilage ; but in advanced 

 life, the whole usually becomes one solid bone. 

 Long continued boiling, however, will separate 

 almost any of the bones which are formed in 

 this manner. 



There are a few other parts of the frame of 

 the second story which remain to be noticed, 

 and which I will call the braces. They are 

 four in number two before, and two behind. 



