86 
OF THE MUSCLES. 
the following, viz. a slit in one tendon to let another ten¬ 
don pass through it ? This structure is found in the ten¬ 
dons which move the toes and fingers. The long tendon, 
as it is called, in the foot, which bends the first joint of the 
toe, passes through the short tendon which bends the sec¬ 
ond joint; which course allows to the sinew more liberty, 
and a more commodious action than it would otherwise 
have been capable of exerting.* [PI. XVI. fig. 1,2.] There 
is nothing, I believe, in a silk or cotton mill, in the belts, 
or straps, or ropes, by which motion is communicated from 
one part of the machine to another, that is more artificial, 
or more evidently so, than this perforation. 
III. The next circumstance which I shall mention, un¬ 
der this head of muscular arrangement, is so decisive a 
mark of intention, that it always appeared to me, to super¬ 
sede, in some measure, the necessity of seeking for any 
other observation upon the subject; and that circumstance 
is, the tendons, which pass from the leg to the foot, being 
bound down by a ligament at the ankle. [PI. XVI. fig. 3.] 
The foot is placed at a considerable angle with the leg. 
It is manifest, therefore, that flexible strings, passing along 
the interior of the angle, if left to themselves, would, when 
stretched, start from it. The obvious preventive is to tie 
them down. And this is done in fact. Across the instep, 
or rather just above it, the anatomist finds a strong liga¬ 
ment under which the tendons pass to the foot. The ef¬ 
fect of the ligament as a bandage, can be made evident to 
the senses; for if it be cut, the tendons start up. The 
simplicity, yet the clearness of this contrivance, its exact, 
resemblance to established resources of art, place it amongst 
the most indubitable manifestations of design with which 
we are acquainted. 
There is also a farther use to be made of the present 
example, and that is, as it precisely contradicts the opin¬ 
ion, that the parts of animals may have been all formed 
by what is called appetency, i. e. endeavour, perpetuated, 
and imperceptibly working its effect, through an incalcu¬ 
lable series of generations. We have here no endeavour, 
but the reverse of it; a constant renitency and reluctance. 
The endeavour is all the other way. The pressure of the 
ligament constrains the tendons; the tendons react upon 
the pressure of the ligament. It is impossible that the lig¬ 
ament should ever have been generated by the exercise of 
the tendon, or in the course of that exercise, forasmuch as 
* Chea. Anat. p. 94, 119. 
