The hand : its mechanism and vital endowments, as evincing design.

  • Charles Bell
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The hand : its mechanism and vital endowments, as evincing design. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    109/314 page 89
    In ruminants there is a cannon bone, but the foot is split into two parts, and this must add to its spring or elasticity. I am inclined to think that. there is still another intention in this form; it prevents the foot sinking in soft ground, and permits it to be more easily with- drawn. We may observe how much more easily the cow withdraws her foot from the yielding margin of a river, than the horse. The round and concave form of the horse’s foot is attended with a vacuum or suction, as it is withdrawn; while the split and conical shaped hoof expands in sinking, and is easily extricated. In the chamois and other species of the deer there is an additional toe. A sort of lesser The left hand figure represents the foot of the antelope ; the right, that of the rein-deer.
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