'9 



sides perform very various offices, often more noble it is true, but certainly 

 in one sense of less iraportance than in the brüte, where they are the 

 necessary agents of bis support and progression ; and what they perform in 

 human compared with these, may be considered as of a secondary or almost 

 adventitious natura : that in the brüte should be sought their primary 

 intentions and the causes of their form and place, and more just views we 

 apprehend would be furnished concerning them pat least we venture to 

 suo-onest it for the consideration of more able anatom ists. 



The next member to the scapula of thelimb is the arm, which compared 

 to the human is very short, and so covered by muscle, that it is generally 

 overlooked, and the fore arm mistaken for it. Might we venture to 

 attempt to explain the outline of its use, which we do with a view more 

 to excite others to consider it, than as a Solution of its difficulties, we 

 should observe, that it is disposed obliquely between the upright column 

 of the limb and the lower advancing point of the scapula against which it 

 is abutting, and would push it in a direction forwards and upwards, but 

 for the strong muscles, which retain it in its Situation, and cause it to 

 present a broad base or surface to receive the Impression, the perpendicular 

 column of the limb being so disposed under the scapula as to be opposite 

 to the angle, which its front and base line make in meeting at the top 

 of the Shoulder, thereby obtaining for it the strengest and most extensive 

 basis of support it can afford, The arm, held in equilibrio between the 

 upright part of the limb and the scapula, becomes the chiefest power in 

 giving the play of the limb, its obliquity being maintained, and the collapse 

 of the angle it makes with the scapula prevented by the peculiarly strong 

 muscles passing round the front of the Joint, while others appear disposed 

 to prevent a collapse of the angle, which it makes to the upright column 

 of the limb, and its motions are communicated by the same set of muscles. 



The fore arm succeeds below, and placed almost perpendicularly, con- 

 tributes to extend the limb and strongly support and elevate the body^ 

 round its upper part are assembled the muscles, whose tendons go to the 

 knee and foot, 



The shank next, is almost a naked column of bone, and much shorter 

 than the preceding ; it farther extends the limb, and terminates by meeting 



,^ thQ 



