With what satisfaction is the mind continually engaged to give pleasure to the body! and with what alacrity are for ever the Members ready to obey the will! Happy harmony, by which we so wonderfully exist!
The solids are the canals and springs of life, and the fluids, which circulate in those canals, nourish them, and set the springs in action.
By the solids we understand,
1st The bones; the frame and support of our wonderful structure.
2dly. Gristles or cartilages; which cover the ends of the bones, in order to make them move with ease and agility.
3dly. Muscles; the fleshy parts, which by a nervous sensation, are induced, either voluntarily or involuntarily, to contract or dilate themselves, in order to give motion to the various parts of our body, to which they are fastened or destined to move.
4thly. Tendons; the chords as it were, by which the muscles are fastened to the bones, so as to make them follow the contraction of the muscles.
5thly. Ligaments; the chords by which the bones are connected with each other, and which give a firmness to their contact and articulation.
6thly. Arteries; the canals which transport the blood from the heart, to all the parts of the body.
7thly. Veins; the canals which carry the blood from the remotest arteries (in the most minute parts of the body) back again to the heart, for a new rotation of the blood.