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Part II. the Ingredients are of a lubricating Nature, but there is this Advantage gained from their Compofition, that they do mutually improve one another: For the Mucilage adds to the Lu bricity of the Oil, and the Oil preferves the Mucilage from Infpiffation, and contracting the Confiftency of a Gelly. Now this Inunaion is ufeful, indeed neceffary, for three Ends chiefly.

1. For the facilitating of Motion. For tho' the Ends of the Bones are very fmooth, yet were they dry, they could not with that Readinefs and Eafe, nay, not without great Diffi culty, yield to and obey the Plucks and Attrations of the Motory Mufcles; as we fee Clocks and Jacks, though the Screws and Teeth of the Wheels and Nuts be never so smooth and polished, yet if they be not oil'd, will hardly move, tho' you clog them with never fo much Weight; but if you apply but a little Oil, they prefently whirl about very fwiftly with the tenth Part of the Force.

2. For preferving the Ends of the Bones from an Incalefcency, which, they being hard and folid Bodies, would neceffarily contract from a fwift and long continuing Motion; such as that of Running, or Mowing, or Threshing, or Sawing, and the like, if they immediately touched and rubbed against one another with that Force they must needs do; efpecially in running, the whole Weight of the Body bear

ing upon the Joints of the Thighs and Knees: So we fee in the Wheels of Waggons or. Coaches, the Hollows of the Naves, by their fwift Rotations on the Ends of the .xle-trees, produce a Heat, fometimes fo intenfe, as to fet them on fire, to prevent which they stand in need to be frequently anointed or befmear'd with a Mixture of Greafe and Tar, imitating the forementioned natural Compofition of Oil and Mucilage. Nay, Bodies fofter a great deal than Metals contract a great Heat by Attrition; as is evident from thofe black circular Lines we fee on Boxes, Dishes, and other turned Veffels of Wood, which are the Effects of Ignition, caufed by the Preffure of an edged Stick upon the Veffel turned nimbly in the Lathe. And if there had not been a Provision in the Joints against fuch a preternatural Incalefcence upon their violent Motion, this would have made a flothful World, and confin'd us to leifurely and deliberate Movements, when there were the most urgent and hafty Occafions to quicken us.

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3. For the preventing of Attrition, and wearing down the Ends of the Bones by their Motion and rubbing one against another, which is fo violent and lafting fometimes, that it is a Wonder any Inunction fhould fuffice to fecure their Heads from Wafting and Confumption. I have often seen the Tops of the Teeth (which are of a harder Substance than the rest of the Bones) worn off by Maftication, in Persons

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who have loft moft of their Grinders, and been compelled conftantly to make use of three or four only in chewing, fo low, that at last the inward Marrow and Nerve lay bare, and they could no longer for Pain make ufe of them. So that had there not been this Provifion made for the anointing the Bones, the curious Workmanship of Nature in adapting them fo exactly one to another, as was moft fit for the eafy Performance of all thofe Motions to which they were deftined, would not fuffice for Ufe: But the ftirring Part of Mankind would foon find themfelves fitter for an Hofpital, than for Action, and the Purfuit of Bufinefs.

Havers.

Thefe Obfervations I acknowMr. Clopton ledge myfelf to have borrowed of a late ingenious* Writer of Ofteology, who thus concludes his Difcourfe upon this Subject. And here we cannot avoid the Notice of the vifible Footsteps of an infinite Reafon, which as they are deeply impressed upon the Univerfe, fo more efpecially on the fenfible Parts of it in those rational Contrivances which are found in Animals: And we can never sufficiently admire the Wisdom and Providence of our great Creator, who has given all Parts in these animated Beings, not only fuch a Structure as renders them fit for their neceffary Motions, and defigned Functions,but withall the Benefit and Advantage of whatever may preferve them, or facilitate their Action.

Moreover, the Artifice of Nature is wonderful in the Construction of the Bones that

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are to fupport the Body, and to bear great Burdens, or to be employed in ftrong Exercifes, they being made hollow, for Lightness and Stiffnefs. For, we have before noted, a Body that is hollow may be demonftrated to be more rigid and inflexible, than a folid one of the fame Substance and Weight. So that here is Provision made for the Stiffness and Lightness of the Bones. But the Ribs, which are not to bear any great Weight, or to be ftrongly exercifed, but only to fence the Breaft, have no Cavity in them, and towards the fore Part or Breaft are broad and thin, that fo they might bend and give way without Danger of Fracture; when bent returning by their elaftick Property to their Figure again. Yet is not the Hollow of the Bones altogether ufelefs, but ferves to contain the Marrow; which fupplies an Oil for the Maintaining and Inuntion of the Bones and Ligaments, and fo facilitating their Motion in the Articulations ; and particularly (which we mentioned not be fore) of the Ligaments, preferving them from Drynefs and Rigidity, and keeping them fupple and flexible, and ready to comply with all the Motions and Poftures of that moveable Part to which they appertain: And lastly, to fecure them from Difruption, which, as strong as they are, they would be in fome Danger of, upon a great and fudden Stretch or Contortion, if they were dry, &c. See more to this Purpofe in the Treatife fore-quoted, p. 183.

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That whereas the Breaft is encompassed with Ribs, the Belly is left free; that it might give Way to the Motion of the Midriff in Refpiration; and to the neceffary Reception of Meat and Drink; as alfo for the convenient Bending of the Body; and in Females, for that extraordinary Extenfion that is requifite in the Time of their Pregnancy.

That the Lungs fhould be made up of fuch innumerable Air-Pipes and Velicles interwoven with Blood Veffels in order to purify, ferment, or fupply the fanguineous Mafs with NitroAerial Particles, which rufh in by their elaftick Power upon the Muscular Extenfion of the Thorax, and fo feed the Vital Flame and Spirits; for upon obftructing this Communication, all is prefently extinct, no Circulation, no Motion, no Heat, nor any Sign of Life remains.

That the Stomach fhould be membranous, and capable of Dilatation and Contraction, according to the Quantity of Meat contained in it, that it fhould be fituate under the Livor, which by s Heat might cherish it, and con! tribute to Concoction: That it should be endued with an acid or glandulous Ferment, or fome corruptive Quality for fo fpeedy a Diffolution of the Meat, and Preparation of Chyle; that after Concoction it fhould have an Ability of contracting itself, and turning out the

Meat.

That the Guts fhould immediately receive it from the Pylorous, farther elaborate, pre

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