OF THE MUSCLES. 
77 
«d,without the contraction oftwo muscles taking place. It 
ts evident, therefore, that the animal functions require that 
particular disposition of the muscles which we describe by 
the name of antagonist muscles. And they are according¬ 
ly so disposed. Every muscle is provided with an adversa¬ 
ry. They act, like two sawyers in a pit by an opposite pull; 
and nothing surely can more strongly indicate design and 
attention to an end, than their being thus stationed; than 
this collocation. The nature of the muscular fibre being 
what it is, the purposes of the animal could be answered by 
no other. And not only the capacity for motion, but the 
aspect and symmetry of the body, is preserved by the mus¬ 
cles being marshalled according to this order, e. g. the 
mouth is holden in the middle of the face, and its angles 
kept in a state of exact correspondency, by several muscles 
drawing against, and balancing each other. [See PI. XIV. fig. 
3.] In a hemiplegia, when the muscles on one side are weak¬ 
ened, the muscles on the other side draw the mouth awry. 
III. Another property of the muscles, which could only 
be the result of care, is, their being almost universally so 
disposed, as not to obstruct or interfere with one another’s 
action. I know but one instance in which this impediment 
is perceived. We cannot easily swallow whilst we gape. 
This, I understand, is owing to the muscles employed in 
the act of deglutition, being so implicated with the muscles 
of the lower jaw, that, whilst these last are contracted, the 
former cannot act with freedom. The obstruction is, in 
this instance, attended with little inconveniency; but it 
shows what the effect is where it does exist; and what 
loss of faculty there would be if it were more frequent. 
Now, when we reflect upon the number of muscles, not fewer 
than four hundred and forty-six in the human body, known 
and named,* how contiguous they lie to each other, in lay¬ 
ers, as it were, over one another, crossing one another, 
sometimes embedded in one another; sometimes perforat¬ 
ing one another; an arrangement, which leaves to each its 
liberty, and its full play, must necessarily require meditation 
and counsel. 
IV. The following is oftentimes the case with the mus¬ 
cles. Their action is wanted, where their situation would 
be inconvenient. In which case, the body of the muscle is 
placed in some commodious position at a distance, and 
made to communicate with the point of action, by slender 
* Keill’s Anat. p. 295, edit. 3. There are, however, five hundred 
and twenty-seven muscles described by more modem anatomists. 
Paxton. 
