Book V. that there are given HC 3983,86 Miles, or 21034781 English Feet(according to B.II. Chap. 2, Note 1.) CE the fame Length with the Height of the Eye on the Maft of a Ship, or at only a Man's Height, &c, added to it; and EHC the oppofite Right-Angle. By which three Parts given, it is cafy to find all the other Parts of the Triangle. And firft the Angle at C, in order to find the Side HE, the Proportion is, As the Side C E, to the Angle at H: So the Side HC, to the Angle at E, which being fubftracted out of 90 gr. the Remainder is the Angle at C. And then, As the Angle at & is to its oppofite Side HC, or elfe, As the Angle at H is to its oppofite Side CE:: So the Angle at C, to its oppofite Side & H, the vifible Horizon. Or the labour may be fhortned, by adding together the Logarithm of the Sum of the two given Sides, and the Logarithm of their Difference: the half of which two Logarithms, is the Logarithm of the Side required, nearly. For an Example we will take the two Sides in Yards, by reafon fcarce any Table of Logarithms will ferve us farther. The Semidiameter of the Earth is 7011594 Yards: the Height of the Eye is 2 Yards more, the Sum of both Sides, is 14023190.

Logar. of which Sum is

7,1468468 Logar. of 2 Yards (the Differ.) is 0,3010300

Sum of both Logar.

The Half Sum

7.4478768

3.7239384

is the Logar. of 5296 Yards 3 Miles, which is the Length of the Line & H, or Diftance the Eye can reach at 6 Feet Height.

This would be the Distance, on a perfect Globe, did the vifual Rays come to the Eye in a ftrait Line. But by means of the Refractions of the Atmosphere, diftant Objects on the Horizon, appear higher than really they are, and may be feen at a greater Diftance, efpecially on the Sea; which is a matter of great Ufe, efpecially to difcover at Sea the Land, Rocks, &c. and it is a great A&t of the divine Providence in the Contrivance and Convenience of the Atmofphere, which by this means enlargeth the vifible Horizon, and is all one as if the terraqueous Globe was much larger than really it is. As to the Height of the Apparent above the true Level, or how much diftant Objects are raifed by the Refractions, the ingenious and accurate Gentlemen of the French Academy Royal, have given us a Table in their Measure of the Earth; Art. 12.

And as this Erection of Man's Body is the moft compleat Pofture for him; fo if we survey the Provision made for it, we find all done with manifeft Design, the utmost Art and Skill being employed therein. To pafs by the particular Conformation of many of the Parts, the Ligaments and Fastnings to answer this Pofture, as the Faftning, for inftance, of the Pericardium to the Diaphragm (which is peculiar to Man (6), I fay paffing by a deal of this nature, manifefting this Pofture to be an Act of Defign) let us ftop a little at the curious Fabrick of the Bones, thofe Pillars of the Body. And how artificially do we find them made, how curiously placed from the Head to Foot! The Vertebra of the Neck and Back Bone (7) made short and complanated, and firmly braced with Mufcles and Tendons, for eafy Incurvations of the Body, but withal for greater Strength, to fupport the Body's own Weight, together with other additional Weights it may have Occasion to bear. The Thigh- Bones and Legs long, and ftrong, and every way well fitted for the Motion of the Body. The Feet accommodated with a great Number of Bones, curiously and firmly tacked together (to which must be added the miniftry of the Mufcles (8) to anfwer all the, Moti

(6) See Book 6, Ch. 5. Note 7.

(7) See Book 4 Ch. 8. Note 2.

ons

(8) The Mechanifm of the Foot would appear to be wonderful, if I fhould defcend to a Defeription of all patts but that would be too long for these Notes therefore a brief Account (most of which I owe to the before commended Mr. Chefelden) may ferve for a Sample. In the first Place, it is neceffary the Foot fhould be concave, to enable us to ftand firm, and that the Nerves and Blood-Veffels may be free from Compreffion when we ftand or walk. In order hereunto, the long Flexers of the Toes cross one another at

the

1

tions of the Legs and Thighs, and at the fame time to keep the Body upright, and prevent it's falling, by readily affifting againft every Vacillation thereof, and with eafy and ready Touches keeping the Line of Innixion, and Center of Gravity in due Place and Pofture (9).

And as the Bones are admirably adapted to prop, fo all the Parts of the Body are as incomparably placed to poife it. Not one fide too heavy for the other, but all in nice Equipoife: the Shoulders, Arms, and Side æquilibrated on one Part; on the other Part the Viscera of the Belly counterpoised with the Weight of the Scapular part, and that useful Cushion of Flesh behind.

And laftly, to all this we may add the wonderful Concurrence, and Miniftry of the prodigious Number and Variety of Mufcles, placed throughout the Body for this Service: that they fhould fo readily answer to every Pofture, and comply with every Motion thereof, without any previous Thought

the Bottom of the Foot, in the Form of a St. Andrew's Crofs, to incline the leffer Toes towards the great One, and the great One towards the leffer. The fort Flexors are chiefly concerned in drawing the Toes towards the Heel. The Tranfverfalis Pedis draws the Outfides of the Foot towards each other; and by being inferted into one of the Sefamoid Bones of the great Toe, diverts the Power of the Abductor Muscle (falfly fo called) and makes it become a Flexor And lastly, the Peronaus longus runs round the outer Ankle, and obliquely forwards cross the bottom of the Foot, and at once helps to extend the Tarfus, to conftri& the Foot, and to direct the Power of the other Extenfors towards the Ball of the great Toe. Hence the Lofs of the Great Toe, is more than of all the other Toes. See alfo Mr. Cowper's Anat. Tab. 28. &c.

(9) It is very well worth while to compare here what Borelli faith de motu Animal. Par. 1. cap. 18. de ftatione Animal. Prop. 132, c. to which I refer the Reader, it being too long to recite here,

289 Thought or Reflext act, fo that (as the excellent Borelli (10) faith) "It is worthy of Admiration, "that in fo great a Variety of Motions, as run"ning, leaping, and dancing, Nature's Laws "of Equilibration fhould always be obferved; and when neglected, or wilfully tranfgreffed, that the Body muft neceffarily and immediately tumble down.

σε

CHA P. III.

Of the FIGURE and SHAPE of Man's BODY.

HE Figure and fhape of Man's Body, is the most commodious that could poffibly be invented for fuch an Animal, the most agreeable to his Motion, to his Labours, and all his Occafions. For had he been a Rational Reptile, he could not have moved from Place to Place faft enough for his Bufinefs, nor indeed have done any almoft, Had he been a Rational Quadrupede, among other things, he had loft the Benefit of his Hands, thofe noble Inftruments of the moft ufe. ful Performances of the Body. Had he been made a Bird, befides many other great Inconveveniences, thofe before mentioned of his Flying would have been fome. In a word, any other Shape of Body, but that which the Allwife Creator hath given Man, would have been as incommodious, as any Pofture but that of Erect; it would have rendered him more helpless, or have put it in his Power to have been more pernicious, or deprived him of ten thousand Benefits, or

Plea

(10) Borel, ibid. Prop. 142.

Pleafures, or Conveniences, which his prefent Figure capacitates him for.

CHA P. IV.

Of the STATURE and SIZE of Man's BODY.

A

Too

S in the Figure, fo in the Stature and Size of Man's Body, we have another manifeft Indication of excellent Defign. Not too Pygmean (1), nor too Gigantick (2), either of which Sizes would in fome particular or other, have been incommodious to Himself, or to his Business, or to the reft of his Fellow-Creatures. Pygmean would have rendered him too puny a Lord of the Creation, too impotent and unfit to manage the inferiour Creatures, would have expofed him to the Affaults of the weakeft Animals, to the ravening Appetite of voracious Birds, and have put him in the Way, and endangered his being trodden in the Dirt by the larger Animals. He would have been alfo too weak for his Bufinefs, unable to carry Burdens, and in a word, to tranfact the greater part of his Labours and Con

cerns.

And on the other hand, had Man's Body been made too monftrously strong, too enormously Gigan

(1) What is here urged about the Size of Man's Body, may anfwer one of Lucretius's Reasons why Nil ex nihilo gignitur. His Argument is

Denique cu

cur Homines tantos natura parare Non potuit, pedibus qui pontum per vada possent Tranfire, & magnos manibus divellere monteis ?

Lucret. L. 1 Car, 200.

(2) Haud facile fit ut quifquam &ingentes corporis vires,& ngenium fubtile habeat, Diodor. Sic. L, 17.