( ) 
II. Some Remarks upon the Obferyation mentioned 
in the foregoing Letter. By Mr. William 
Beckett, Surgeon , F. S. 
T H E remarkable Difference in the Stature of hu- 
man Bodies, in the Space of a few Hours time, 
taken Notice of in the Reverend Mr. fVaJfe ' s Letter, 
read before the Society this Day Sevennight, I have 
fince found to be Fa6t, by feveral Experiments made 
with the greateff exa&mefs I have been capable of. 
Only this I have farther obferved, that in thofe Per- 
ions who have been young, the Alteration has been 
more confiderable than in thofe that have been aged. 
The Trials equally fucceeding in a fitting as in a 
Handing Pofture, will naturally lead us to believe, that 
it muff neceffarily be from the Trunk of the Body, or 
lome of its Parts, that this remarkable Alteration is 
brought about. Now every Body knows, that the 
Standard of a Perfon’s Stature has been always look- 
ed upon to be determined by the whole Compages of 
the Bones, adjufted by the Divine Architect according 
to the ftridheft Rules of Geometry. 
But there is fomething fo wonderful in the Stru&ure 
and Diipofition of the Spine, that nothing but fuch a 
peculiar Contrivance could fo curiouffy have fitted it for 
the relpe&ive Ufes and Purpoles it was ordained for. 
The thicknefs and fhortnefs of the Bones, with the 
intervening Cartilages, affifted by the bony Proceffes, 
difpofe it to a Motion peculiar to it felf. Whereas had 
the Bones been of any confiderable length, upon bend- 
ing the Body, the Articulations muff have made a large 
Angle upon their inmoft Edges, and the fpinal Mar- 
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