action, and so have prevented our sitting and riding on horseback. Had both the thigh and knee-joint been alike the same disadvantage would have existed, so that we cannot but admire the wisdom and skill manifested in the formation of the joints. In the balland-cup-joint, the ball is covered, and the cup lined with gristle, as are also the ends of other bones which have to work against each other. The smoothness and elasticity of the gristle fit the joints for easy and safe action. Inventors of machinery resort to a similar contrivance when they have the end of a piece of metal plated with another kind of metal, to obtain a more easy action. Though the ends of the bones are smooth and nicely fitted, yet provision must be made for keeping them moist, just as in machinery oil must be applied. The action of bones one against another is sometimes so violent and continuous, it is a wonder how the ends are prevented from wearing away. To provide what is required, each joint is supplied with as much synoria, or joint-oil, as the joint may require, and it is made on the spot where it is needed, and supplied without any aid from man.

28

THE FOOT'S COMPLAINT.

"It's really too bad," cried the Foot, in a fever,
"That I am thus walking and walking for ever:
My mates are to honour and indolence thrust,
While here I am doomed to the mud and the dust.

"There's the Mouth-he's the fellow for all the nice things,
And the Ear only wakes when the dinner-bell rings;
The Hand with his rings decks his fingers so white;
And as to the Eye-he sees every fine sight.”

"Stay, stay," said the Mouth; "don't you know, my dear brother,

We all were intended to help one another?

And surely you can't be thought useless and mean,

On whom all the rest so entirely must lean.

66 Consider, my friend, we are labouring too,
And toiling-nay, don't interrupt me-for you;
Indeed, were it not for the Hand, Mouth, and Eye,
Of course you know well you would falter and die.

"I eat, but 'tis only that you may be strong;

The Hand works for you, my friend, all the day long;
And the Eye, he declares he shall soon lose his sight,
So great are his efforts to guide you aright."

The Foot, in reply, could find nothing to say,
For he felt he had talked in a culpable way,
And owned the reproof was both wise and well-meant,
For, wherever we are, we should there be content.

S. W. P.

CHAPTER IV.

The Muscular System, or Fleshy Portion.

THE outer covering of the skeleton is composed of a large number of portions called muscles; and muscle is formed of a collection of small redish fibres, which are again bound together by fibrous tissue. There are two great varieties of muscle structure in the body—the muscles of animal life, or voluntary muscles, which are the muscles proper, and the muscles of organic life, or involuntary muscles. The voluntary muscles are those of locomotion; and if we consider the manifold and diverse movements of which the body is capable, we shall find them very numerous, they exceed four thousand in number, and vary much in form and size.

The muscles of the body are formed by that fleshy part we are all acquainted with, and which, in a joint of meat, we call the lean. When examined it will be found to consist of distinct bundles. Each of these is made up of myriads of fibres lyng parallel to each

other, and these fibres are attached by ropes or tendons to those bones which the muscles has to move. Small as the fibres are each one of them is a tube, having a diameter of about th of an inch. And even these small tubes contain a great number of extremely fine fibrils about

across.

th of an inch

The number of the muscles is astonishing. It can be shown that upwards of fifty of them are called into motion by the simplest movement of the arm or hand. Dr. Niewentyt reckoned up a hundred that are employed every time we breathe. We take in our breath without thinking of this, without reflecting on the complication of our own being, and, most of all, we seldom think of Him who made us so fearfully wonderful.

In the arm the muscles are arranged in two groups, one on the front, which bends the arms; the other at the back, which extends or straightens it. In the fore-arm the same rule applies, only there are additional ones to rotate the arm, and execute the movements of the hand.

The tendons of the muscles are held in their places at the wrist by a circular band of fibrous tissue called