[ 5'9 ] 
It were to be wifhed we could trace the Nerves 
of Cartilages : But, in relation to thefe Organs, here, 
as in many other Parts of the Body, we are under a 
Neceffity, from the Imperfe&ion of our Senfcs, of 
being fatisfied with mere Conjecture. And though, 
from the great Infenfibility of a Cartilage, fome have 
doubted of its being furnifhed with Nerves ; yet, as it 
is generally allowed, that thefe are a fine qua non in 
the Growth and Nourifhment of Animals, we have 
no fufficient Reafon to deny their Exiftence in this 
particular Part. With regard to the manner of their 
Diftribution, we may prefume, from Analogy, that 
they follow the fame Courfe with the Blood-veflels. 
The articulating Cartilages are rnoft happily con- 
trived to all Purpofes of Motion in thofe Parts. By 
their uniform Surface, they move upon one another 
with Eafe : By their fofr, fmooth, and flippery Sur- 
face, mutual Abraflon is prevented : By their Flexi- 
bility, the contiguous Surfaces are conftantly adapted 
to each other, and the Fri&ion diffufed equally over 
the Whole: By their Elafticity, the Violence of any 
Shock, which may happen in running, jumping, 
is broken and gradually fpent \ which mull have been 
extremely pernicious, if the hard Surfaces of Bones 
had been immediately contiguous. As the Courfe 
of the cartilaginous Fibres appears calculated chiefly 
for this laft Advantage, to illuftrate it, we need only 
reflett upon the foft undulatory Motion of Coaches, 
which Mechanics want to procure by Springs; or 
upon the Difference betwixt riding a Chamber Horfe 
and a real one. To conclude, the Infenfibility of 
articulating Cartilages is wifely contrived, as by this 
means 
