The hand : its mechanism and vital endowments, as evincing design, and illustrating the power, wisdom, and goodness of God . o the drum, and continue dancing until she missedthe step,—when these involuntary motions instantlyceased, and the paroxj^sm ended. The physician,profiting by this, and observing a motion in herhps, put his ear close to her mouth; he thought hecould hear her sing; and questioning her, she saidthere was a tune continually dwelling upon her ear,which at times irresistibty imj)elled her to begin herinvoluntary dance. In the end, she was cured byaltering the time, in beating
The hand : its mechanism and vital endowments, as evincing design, and illustrating the power, wisdom, and goodness of God . o the drum, and continue dancing until she missedthe step,—when these involuntary motions instantlyceased, and the paroxj^sm ended. The physician,profiting by this, and observing a motion in herhps, put his ear close to her mouth; he thought hecould hear her sing; and questioning her, she saidthere was a tune continually dwelling upon her ear,which at times irresistibty imj)elled her to begin herinvoluntary dance. In the end, she was cured byaltering the time, in beating the drum ; for, whenevershe missed the time, the influence ceased to haveits efiect.^ * Med, Cliir. Trans, vol. vii CHAP. IX. THE MUSCULAE SEITSE. 251 If asked, what this extraordmary disease is; we canonly answer that, being an excitable state of the nervousand muscular systems, it will be called Chorea; but itis an instance of a natural combination of muscularactions, morbidly produced ; just as in hysteria, wherethe expression of various natural passions, for example,weeping, or laughing, is frequently CHAPTEE X THE ORGAN ADAPTED TO THE INSTINCT.—THE HAND NOTTHE SOURCE OF INGENUITY OR CONTRIVANCE, NOR CON-SEQUENTLY OF MANS SUPERIORITY Seeing the perfection of the human Hand, both instructure and endowments, we can hardly be surprisedat some philosophers entertaining the opinion ofAnaxagoras, that the superiority of man is owing tohis hand. Although the system of bones, muscles, andnerves, which belongs to this extremity, is suited toevery form and condition of vertebrated animals, yet itis in the human hand, that we perceive the consumma-tion of all perfection, as an instrument. This superi-ority consists in its combination of strength, withvariety, extent, and rapidity of motion; in the powerof the thumb, and the forms, relations, and sensibilityof the fingers, which adapt it for holding, pulling,spinning, weaving, and constructing ; properties whichmay be
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