LECTURE III. 137 



think, view this part of the skeleton 

 without being struck with its architectural 

 construction. The wedge forms the key- 

 stone of an arch, on which, not only the 

 weight of the upper part of the body, 

 but also of those loads which we occa- 

 sionally sustain, is supported. The side 

 bones are expanded above the brim of the 

 pelvis forming the hips, and give support 

 to the viscera contained in the belly. The 

 hips are much more expanded in females 

 than in males. The ancients, who had a 

 clear and strong perception of whatever is 

 beautiful and useful in the human figure, 

 and who, perhaps, delicately exaggerated 

 beauty to render it more striking, have re- 

 presented Venus as measuring one-third 

 more across the hips than the shoulders, 

 whilst in Apollo, they have reversed these 

 measurements. The lower part of the side 

 bones are formed into oblique protube- 

 rances, upon which we sit, and here we 

 have a fatty cushion to rest upon. These 

 prominences are placed parallel to the line 

 of gravity, so that when we sit upright upon 

 them, the weight of the body is here again 

 found to be in a state of equipoize. The 



