LECTURE If. 75 



for an hour or more a day, wishing the ex- 

 ertion of such powers might take place; 

 and she promised to comply with his re- 

 quest. After a time, she became persuaded 

 she had in a degree acquired her object, 

 and thus encouraged, her will became more 

 energetic, and the muscles more obedient 

 to its mandates ; till it was evident to others 

 that she could check the receding motion 

 of her limbs, and prolong the advancing 

 one. Mr. Hunter then attached weights to 

 her feet, to increase the demand for muscu- 

 lar effort, and thus, by degrees, did the pa- 

 tient acquire the power of extending the 

 legs on the thighs, and the consequent 

 ability to stand and walk. That muscles 

 may acquire a new sphere of contraction, 

 was afterwards fully proved by other cases; 

 and Mr. Hunter has put up in his collection 

 of anatomical facts, illustrative of the vital 

 functions, the biceps muscle of both arms 

 of the same subject ; the one, which is of 

 its natural length, measures eleven inches ; 

 the other, which has become contracted in 

 consequence of the arm being broken, and 

 the bones overlapping, measures only five 



