IN THE HUMAN FRAME. 
59 
are performed with safety, but that it is an accident hard¬ 
ly ever heard of, that even the gesticulations of a harlequin 
distort his spine. 
Upon the whole, and as a guide to those who may be in¬ 
clined to carry the consideration of this subject farther, 
there are three views under which the spine ought to be 
regarded, and in all which it cannot fail to excite our ad¬ 
miration. These views relate to its articulations, its liga¬ 
ments, and its perforation; and to the corresponding advan¬ 
tages which the body derives from it, for action, for strength, 
and for that which is essential to every part, a secure com¬ 
munication with the brain.* 
* It will be useful to append to the remarks of Dr. Paley upon the 
mechanism of the spine and of other parts of the body, some observations 
by a very eminent anatomist and surgeon now living, who has lately 
considered the subject of Animal Mechanism in its connexion with Natu¬ 
ral Theology, and has presented some striking and original views. 
These observations have been published as one of the treatises of the 
Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, which forms the ninth 
number of the series. These extracts will be the more instructive as giv¬ 
ing views of a professional observer in confirmation of those of our au¬ 
thor ; and they will also serve as additional illustrations of the same great 
truths which he has endeavoured to enforce.— Ed. 
“ The spinal column, as it is called, serves three purposes : it is the 
great bond of union between all the parts of the skeleton; it forms a tube 
for the lodgement of the spinal marrow, a part of the nervous system as 
important to life as the brain itself; and lastly, it is a column to sustain 
the head. 
We now see the importance of the spine, and we shall next explain 
how the various offices are provided for. 
If the protection of the spinal marrow had been the only object of 
this structure, it is natural to infer that it would have been a strong and 
unyielding tube ofbone; but, as it must yield to the inflexion of the body, 
it cannot be constituted in so strict an analogy with the skull. It must, 
therefore, bend; but it must have no abrupt or considerable bending at 
one part; for the spinal marrow within would in this way suffer. 
By this consideration we perceive why there are twenty-four bones in 
the spine, each bending a little; each articulated or making a joint with 
its fellow; all yielding in a slight degree, and, consequently, permitting 
in the whole spine that flexibility necessary to the motions of the body. 
It is next to be observed that, whilst the spine by this provision moves in 
every direction, it gains a property which it belongs more to our present 
purpose to understand. The bones of the spine are called vertebra; at 
each interstice between these bones, there is a peculiar gristly substance, 
which is squeezed out from between the bones, and, therefore, permits 
them to approach and play a little in the motions of the body. This 
gristly substance is enclosed in an elastic binding, or membrane of great 
strength, which passes from the edge or border of one vertebra, to the bor¬ 
der of the one next it. When a weight is upon the body, the soft gristle 
is pressed out, and the membrane yields: the moment the weight is remov- 
