47 The Winter's Wreath for 1829. 48 and sublimer are thy views! Mind alone | transcendent beauty, shooting from behind has essence: the forms of matter are but shadows. The whole choir of earth and heaven! what is it? What, but a passing vision ?" I found myself on the side of a lofty mountain, rising out of the sea, the waves of which dashed against its base. The water was covered with a thin vapour, through which the sight penetrated with difficulty; and the objects on its surface, seen indistinctly, seemed agitated by the heavings of the surge. Casting my eyes behind me, I saw the mountain divide into two branches, which appeared to lose themselves in the clouds. Between them was a narrow passage, in the front of which stood a being of more than mortal stature. His countenance had the bloom of youth: his eye, which was upon me, shone with divine radiance ;-in one hand he held a spear, and with the other he beckoned me to approach with benignant aspect. Wonder and reverence took possession of my heart; and I advanced with humble and hesitating steps. "Fear nothing," said he, "I am the angel Ithuriel, the servant of the Most High: obey me, and be instructed. I have strengthened thy sight: turn thy face towards the ocean, and tell me what thou seest." The clouds which had brooded over the water were rolled away, and the sea was covered with vessels of different sizes, all bending their course towards the mountain where we stood. On board of them I could discern the figures of human beings, sometimes directing the helm or expanding the sails, and at other times resting indolently on the deck, and trusting themselves to the tide. Many of these vessels seemed to enjoy a steady gale, but some were almost becalmed, and others appeared to be tossed and agitated by the violence of a tempest. All, however, approached us, though with different degrees of celerity: the whole being carried forward by a strong current, which set towards the shore. While I was about to ask an explanation of what I saw, the angel again addressed me. "Direct thy view upwards," said he, "and contemplate the sky as it hangs over the ocean." I turned my eyes towards the heavens, and saw them illuminated with streaks of light, and with meteors of the mountain where we stood, across the hemisphere, and tinging the clouds with various colours of celestial hue. I gazed with astonishment and rapture; "Whence," said I, "Oh, inhabitant of heaven! arise those glorious visions, and what do they represent?" "A portion," said Ithuriel," of the never-ending circle of being is presented before thee in the tablet of human life. Thou standest on an isthmus: below thee is the sea of time; behind thee, where thine eye cannot penetrate, the boundless regions of eternity. The meteors that play on the heavens before thee, are irradiations from objects too luminous for mortal eye, which have penetrated across the dark vapours that overshadow this mountain, and give a faint display of the real beauties of a brighter world. Again reflected from the impending clouds, they are thrown with diminished lustre on the surface of the ocean, where they assume a thousand unsubstantial forms. It is these phantoms, which they mistake for realities, that thy fellow-mortals are pursuing thy sight is farther strengthened; observe them more narrowly, and tell me what thou seest." "I see," said I, "the countenances of those who are advancing on the water, agitated by various passions; and I can discern some of the objects which attract them, and which appear to dance before them on the billows as they approach. In their direct course I can discern a mighty whirlpool, towards which all the waters of the sea seem to flow, and the vessels are carried along by the power of its vortex." "The whirlpool which thou observest,' said Ithuriel," is the termination of mortal life the innumerable tribes that cover the surface of the ocean, must all be swallowed up in its abyss. Many, thou mayst see, that are on the brink of fate, are stored with provisions for a long voyage. How vain is their solicitude! their barks and their ladings shall perish in the gulf, and they themselves be cast up naked upon the shore!" While the angel was yet speaking, I could discern the headmost vessel fast approaching the whirlpool: on the deck sat a man with contented air, and dull but placid countenance. His vessel was deeply laden, and moved evenly on the tide. He appeared unconscious of his danger, his attention being engaged by the figure of a palace in front, resembling as far as I could discern the Mansion-house in London. As he got up, seemingly with the intention of preparing to enter it, he discovered the 49 The Winter's Wreath for 1829. gulf immediately before him, and, starting with agony and terror, instantly disappeared. After him, followed others of the same description. Their vessels were, in general, laden with different articles of merchandise, but some were ballasted with gold and silver; and others, to my surprise, were deeply pressed down in the water, though their lading seemed to consist only of thin pieces of paper of an oblong form. Some of these persons seemed to be entirely employed in gazing on their cargoes, but others appeared to have objects at some distance in their view, on which their attention was fixed. Among these last, I could observe a man of an open and ingenuous appearance, but with a face marked with anxiety and care. The vessel under him seemed to have been buffeted by the storms, and rolled much in the water. He kept his place, however, steadily at the helm, with an air of fortitude in his countenance, which seemed at times clouded with pain, but more frequently enlightened with comfort. He discovered the abyss at some distance before him, and, folding his arms, he resigned himself to his fate with composure and magnanimity. When on the verge of the whirlpool, I saw him lying backward, with the air and attitude of one that sleeps. The next vessel that followed was a canoe, in one end of which sat a man of a reddish hue. His body was almost naked, and his face was painted of different colours. On his head he wore a crown of variegated feathers, and in his hand he carried a bow. His countenance was sometimes agitated with keen emotion, and sometimes lethargic and dull. As he approached the whirlpool, he arose erect in his canoe, and, with eyes fixed on the gulf before him, sunk undauntedly under the waves. A great variety of beings succeeded, most of whom seemed unconscions of the fate that awaited them; but some discerned the abyss at a distance, and endeavoured to steer a different course. They were able to hold a direction somewhat oblique, but the power of the vortex soon overcame their efforts, and sucked them under the tide. While I contemplated the immense crowd that was rushing forward, I saw a vessel advancing that engaged my partieular attention. It seemed extremely light, and violently agitated by the winds, which blew in succession in various directions. On the deck sat a man, whose hair hung loose in the breeze, and whose temples were covered with leaves of bay. He held 121.-VOL. XI. 50 " a harp before him, on which he seemed to play; and his countenance bespoke a mind agitated by lofty conceptions. Of the storm he appeared altogether heedless, his eyes glanced alternately on the surface of the ocean, and the convexity of the sky; and I could discover a beam of light reflected from the heavens, that played on his head. In this situation a sudden blast overset his bark, and he was tumbled into the sea. He was, however, able to get on the inverted keel, and I could discern that he still preserved his harp. At times he resumed his employment with the same air of unconcern as formerly; but he was frequently interrupted by the rolling of the vessel, and was generally half immersed in the water. A few of the notes he struck, I could hear; they were exquisitely melodious, and seemed to brighten the sorrow of his countenance with an expression of elevation and hope. My heart was drawn towards this unfortunate being; but while I was musing on his condition, I perceived that he also had reached the termination of his voyage, and had sunk, like the rest, into the inevitable gulf. The My eye again wandered at large over the surface of the water, when a new object engaged my attention. In the prow of a bark that advanced with great rapidity, I saw a young man standing in a military garb. His port was noble, his aspect commanding, and his look was directed, with the utmost animation and ardour, towards a phantom immediately before him. colours in which this spectre was portrayed, were so vivid as to be distinctly visible. The figure seemed that of a beautiful female in the dress of an Amazon; ore hand was laid across her breast, and with the other she pointed upwards. The farther the warrior advanced, the greater appeared his eagerness; and his visage seemed to grow pale, and sicken with the anxiety of his mind. But the instant he reached the gulf, his eye sparkled, his cheek flushed, he sprang forwards, with extended arms, to catch the beauteous phantom, which burst in his embrace with a flash of light that illuminated his countenance, as he sank under the waves, and diffused a splendour across the ocean far and wide. The surprise and admiration which this produced had no sooner subsided, than a vessel attracted my notice, of a superior size. On the deck stood a man in the dress of a senator. His stature was tall, his attitude graceful and majestic; though his hair was whitened with age, his countenance had the energy of youth, and his eyes seemed to brighten with unquenchable E 51 Osseous System-Essay IV. fire. He looked around him with an air of authority and command; and I could observe that his fellow-voyagers within his view gazed on him with awe and reverence. The vessel seemed to move proudly under him; the waves curling and foaming against her stem. As he approached the brink of the whirlpool, he stepped forward in the attitude of one that speaks, and raising his hand above his head in high emotion, he suddenly staggered forward, as if struck by lightning, and tumbled headlong into the gulf. The sound of his fall, which seemed like the fall of a colossus, reached me distinctly, and the waves appeared to recoil all around. . 52 THAT the ligaments of the joints tend most materially to their firmness and strength, is sufficiently obvious; and that they are so placed and inserted as to effect this, while they allow a due freedom of motion, cannot but be regarded as a beautiful example of skill and contrivance. But while the ligaments permit the motion of the joints, it may be asked, How are the bones themselves fashioned so as to form these joints or hinges, each in its degree so flexible, and each so adapted to its purpose? And here perhaps, in order to attain this end, we might expect to find an elaborate complexity of conformation, or an union of bones as intricate. Nothing, however, can be wider from the truth. On the contrary, all is strikingly simple and appropriate, exhibiting the impress of that wisdom and providence, which in all the visible works of creation, but especially in every part of the living frame, forces itself upon our attention. Let us, however, revert to this question, and consider what peculiarities characterize the extremities of the bones, (for in this piece of mechanism the extremities alone are for the most part concerned,) so as to constitute, upon a due union, a moveable articulation. Whilst I was lost in sorrow and wonder, the voice of the angel again saluted me. "Grieve not," said he, "for what thou hast seen. The eternal Spirit, whose creatures we are, penetrates all nature, and is equally present in the depth and darkness of the ocean, as in the brightness of the summer's day. The beings that are lost to thy sight are yet under his protection, and shall again emerge with renovated powers. They are spirits like thyself, emanations from the supreme Spirit, and, after a course of action and suffering, a part of which thou hast seen, shall again be united to the source from whence they sprung. Human life is a single scene, in the great drama of existence. Earth, Oh mortal! is the school of minds. When thou minglest in its cares and its pleasures, remember thy origin and thy destination; let thy heart be purified from baseness and vice, and bear thyself with the temper of an immortal. But look again on the ocean, and direct thine eye If, then, we examine a bone entering towards the north." I obeyed. On the into the formation of one of the principal verge of the horizon, a small vessel ap- joints, it will be found, as we have before peared, bounding through the waves. As stated, to enlarge towards its ends, and exit moved along, I could discern a man hibit in its termination the following chastanding on the deck with a pencil in his racters;-in this example, a round head or hand. His attention was engaged by the ball,-in that, bold projecting tuberosities vessels that were passing before him; and with furrows, or depressions more or less he seemed busy in recording their fate, as marked between them; and in others, an they successively disappeared. But of his abrupt surface hollowed out into concaown vessel he appeared to take no care or vities, encircled perhaps by an acute and direction; and he did not seem conscious elevated ridge: in each instance the aim that he himself was rapidly borne along by is evident; the round head is designed for the tide. I gazed on him by a secret sym-fitting into a cup-like socket, as in the pathy; as he approached more nearly, a sudden thought struck me-alas! I knew his features, though I had never seen them but in a mirror. Confusion, surprise, and terror took possession of my mind. But as I saw the image approach the gulf, my eyes became dim; a thousand half-formed shadows danced before my sight; clouds and darkness gathered around; the vision melted away; and I found myself lying on hip-joint; the tuberosities into correspond. ing depressions, the intervening furrows being also in turn similarly occupied, as in bones of the elbow-joint, or especially, for a familiar example, as is seen in the shankbones (as they are termed) of a sheep; and the concavities upon the flattened surfaces which terminate others, receive the extremities of a bone fashioned for accurate adjustment. In some of the minor 53 Osseous System-Essay IV. articulations, indeed, plain polished surfaces are merely applied together, and secured by necessary ligaments; to such, however, a limited motion only can necessarily be allowed; and this we see exemplified in the attachment of the ribs to the vertebræ. But while endeavouring to give a general view of the principles upon which the joints are constructed, there is one species of articulation so unique and peculiar, and forming so singular a feature in the osseous system, as to merit particular notice: we allude to the articulations of that curious pile of bones, the vertebra. In every point of view, the vertebral column is calculated to excite our interest and admiration. - Arranged and constructed so as to give grace and flexibility to the trunk, and yet so strongly and securely as to form a complete defence for the spinal marrow, lest that "silver cord" be broken, exhibiting, in the union of its bones among each other, a proof of the most exquisite design, as well as constituting one of the essential parts of the skeleton, (never wanting in all red-blooded animals,) it presents a subject for manifold study. The vertebral column, if we regard it as a whole, possesses great freedom and facility of motionalthough the freedom of each bone of which the column consists, in its individual capacity, is very limited; but to understand thoroughly the nature of this piece of mechanism, it will be necessary to examine singly the parts composing it. If, then, one of the vertebræ be offered to our inspection, we perceive it to consist of a compressed circular, or somewhat oval-shaped body, with two flattened surfaces, and throwing out several processes of considerable magnitude. Encircled by these, and the body of the bone, is a large aperture, which, in the natural arrangement of the column, forms throughout its length a canal for the passage of the spinal cord, thus curiously and safely situated. The names of the processes are, the oblique, of which there are four; the two transverse, and the spinal; and in the natural position of the vertebræ, the two lower and the two upper of the oblique processes of the adjoining vertebræ, are connected together. This arrangement presents itself, if we take a posterior view of the spine, where we see the lower oblique processes of the upper bone overlaying and resting against the superior oblique processes of the next. The bodies of the vertebræ are piled one upon another, but are not in actual contact-for between them is interposed an elastic cushion of considerable thickness, partaking of the nature of ligament and 54 cartilage. To the presence of this, the whole spine owes its capability of motion on all sides; and hence it follows, that on every change of the position of the trunk, the centre of motion in each vertebra is correspondingly altered. Thus when we bow forwards, the upper moved part bears entirely on the bodies of the vertebra below; if we bend back, the oblique processes support the weight; if we recline to one side, we rest upon the oblique processes of that side, and part of the bodies; and in an erect position, the bodies and oblique processes have each their share of the superincumbent pressure. The advantages resulting from this mode of arrangement are of the utmost value. It must be evident, that upon every motion of the spine several vertebræ at least must be concerned ;-hence, the necessity of an acute curvature being made at the conjunction of any two, is obviated. The design of this is not only to give grace as well as stability to the trunk, but to provide against the possibility of injuring by compression, or overstretching the spinal cord, or the nerves arising from it, which would, from an opposite plan of mechanism, be in danger of happening continually. As it is, however, we may bend the body in every direction, (and it is astonishing to what a degree this power may be improved by practice,) in perfect security. The whole range of vertebræ present but few essential differences-the variations being chiefly as it regards size, and the figure of the processes-but as far as the mechanism of the articulations is concerned, the same principle obtains throughout. To this rule, however, two of the cervical vertebræ offer a remarkable exception; the first named the atlas, the second he vertebra dentata; but to understand their mechanism, it is necessary that we should give at least a general description of them. The classical name of atlas, then, is given to the first vertebræ of the neck, from the circumstance of its supporting the head-a globe certainly of considerable importance, at least to the possessor. On examination, we find this bone destitute of a body, or any thing analogous to the bodies of the other vertebræ. It consists simply of a ring of unequal thickness, furnished with processes, and having several articulating polished concavities. These are five in number. The two superior, and by far the most concave, are adapted for receiving the condyles or articulating surfaces of the occipital bone of the skull, and being secured together by strong ligaments, an articulation is formed by their union, having 55 Osseous System-Essay IV. a slight and circumscribed motion. Indeed, the only movement immediately occurring to the head from its union to this first vertebra, is slightly backwards and forwards, as in nodding. 56 while in the other quadrupeds the number is seven, as in man. In the Ternate bat there are no bones added to the os sacrum, the caudal vertebræ being wanting. Although strictly it may be a departure for a moment from our main subject, the articulation of bones, it may not be uninteresting, while speaking of the mechanism of the vertebral column, to subjoin the following Table, exhibiting the number of vertebræ in a few of our common quadrupeds : Common Bat... The two articulating surfaces immediately beneath these, are united to two corresponding of the succeeding vertebra, or the vertebra dentata, and the motion resulting from the mechanism of this joint is rotatory. To the articulating surface on the inner side of the ring, is secured the odontoid process of the vertebra dentata— a process which, in a great measure, constitutes the principal difference between this and the remaining vertebræ. This process arises from the upper surface of the body of the bone, and proceeds within the anterior arch of the ring of the atlas, where it is so fastened by ligaments, as to allow the atlas to revolve upon it as a kind of axis, the bone being thus prevented from slip- Hare ping during the rotatory motion, which is performed with greater security. The vertebra dentata is united to the third cervical vertebra by its body and oblique processes. In this it resembles the rest of the vertebræ of the spinal column, and its motion is also the same. From what has been stated on the mechanism and motion of the spine, we may conclude, that the head, from its union with the first vertebra, or atlas, is enabled to execute the movement of slightly nodding; that from the union of the atlas with the second or vertebra dentata, the head acquires the power of rotatory motion, or turning from side to side, independently of the motion of the body; and that to the union of the remaining bones of the spine, and its peculiar mechanism, the whole trunk is indebted for an infinite variety of movements, of equal utility and graceful ness. The number of vertebræ differs in various species of animals. In the human subject it amounts to twenty-four, viz. seven cervical, twelve dorsal, and five lumbar. The fifth lumbar (or last vertebra) rests on the os sacrum, which presents the appearance of fine vertebræ consolidated together, and terminated by four distinct bones, forming what anatomists term os coccygis. In most quadrupeds these distinct bones are numerous, and bear the name of caudal vertebræ, or vetebræ of the tail. Among birds, the cervical vertebræ vary in different species, from nine to twenty-three; and the lumbar vertebræ are ossified into one piece with the haunch-bones. Among quadrupeds, in the three-toed sloth, the cervical vertebræ amount to nine; Dog Otter.... ... Rabbit Stag Goat Ox 15 To return, however, to our subject. How many various species of motion the re spective articulations of the body are constructed to perform, is a question which naturally suggests itself, and claims our consideration. Although there are scarcely two joints to which the same degree of motion is allotted, yet it appears, we think, upon inspection, that there is not in reality that variety in the nature or species of movements, which one might be led from a cursory view to imagine; for, if we except that undefined neutral species, which bones united to others only by cartilage (as the ribs to the sternum or breast-bone) naturally possess, and which arises simply from the elasticity of the conjoining medium, as is seen also in the vertebræ, we shall be led, upon a closer examination of the mechanism of the articulations, to conclude, that they are capable of only two distinct species, the one a simple and circumscribed hinge-like motion, exemplified in the joints of the fingers and knees; the other, a rotatory motion, more or less confined, but still allowing movements of great freedom and extent, and in the shoulder-joint almost unfettered liberty. The construction of a joint, so as to enable it to rotate freely, necessarily endows it with the power of performing every other movement of |