The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-01-09
employ all their limbs for the support of

pirate that could be found for an order
constituted by the human species only;
since man alone is two handed. "That"
says Cavier which constitutes the hand,
paoperly so called, is the faculty of op-
posing the thumb to the other fingers so
as to seize the minutest objects, faculty
which is carried to the highest degree of
perfection in man, in whom the whole
anterior extremity is free, and can be
employed in prehension. Some natural
lists refuse the term hand to the extrem-
tiles of the monkey tribe, preferring to
call them graspers; for it is certainly
true, that, although possessing an oppos-
able thumb, they are destitute of the
power of performing many of those ac-
tions, which we regard as most character
istic of the hand. Such actions are
chiefly dependent on the size and power
of the thumb; which is much more de-
veloped in man, than it is, even in the
highest apes The thumb of the human
hand can be brought into exact opposi-
ton to the extremities of all the fingers,
whether singly, or in combination; whilst
in the quadrumana which most nearly
approach man, the thumb is SO short and
weak, and the fingers SO long and slen-
der, that their tips can scarcely be
brought into opposition, and can never
be opposed in near contact with each
other with any degree of force. Hence,
! although admirably adapted for clinging
round bodies of a certain size, such as
the small branches of trees, &C., the ex-
tremities of the quadrumana can neither
seize very minute objects with such pre-
cision, nor support largo ones with such
firmness, as are essential to the dextrouS
performance of variety of operations,
for which the hand of man is admirably
adapted. Hence the possession of four
hands is not as might be supposed, a char
acter which raises the animals which ex-
hibit it, above "two handed man." for
none of these four hands, are adapted to
the same variety of actions of prehension
of which his are capable; and all of them
are in some degree required for support.
There is much truth then in Sir Charles
Bells remark, that eve ought to define
the hand as belonging exclusively to
man. There is in him what we observe
in none of the mammalia that approach
him in other respects, complete dis
tinction in functional character of the
anterior and posterior extremities; the
former being adapted for prehension
alone, and the latter for support alone.
Thus each function is performed with a
much higher degree of perfection than it
can be when two such opposite purposes
have to be united. But it cannot be
said with truth that man owes his supe-
riority to his hand alone; for without
the directing mind the hand would be
comparatively useless. His elevated po-
sition is due to his mind and its instru-
ments conformity; for if destitute of
either mankind would be speedily ex-
tinguished altogether, or reduced to
very subordinate grade of existence
The absence of any weapons of offense
and of direct means of defense, are re-
markable characteristics of man. On
those to whom nature has denied weap-
ons of attack, she has bestowed the
means, either of passive defense, of con-
cealment, or of flight. Yet man, by his
superior reason, has not only been ena-
bled to resist the attacks of other ami
mails. but even to bring them under sub
lection to himself. His intellect can
scarcely suggest the mechanism, which
his hands cannot frame; and he has de-
vised and constructed arms more power
full than those which any other creation
wields, and defenses so secure as to defy
the assaults of all but his fellow man.
Still however widely man may be dis
tinguished from other animals by these,
and the other peculiarities of his struc-
ture and economy, he is yet more distin-
guished by those mental endowments,
and the liabilities of life and action
thence resulting, which must be regard
ed as the essential characteristics of hui
manity From the intelligence of man
results his mental improvability, and his |
improved condition impresses itself upon
his organization. This capability of i'm
in the bodily as well as the /
mental constitution of man. is the cause
of the comforts now enjoyed by civilized |
races, and of the means which they pos
sess of still further elevation. In the |
processes by which these are attained, |
we observe a remarkable difference be- !
tween the character of man and that of |
other animals. The arts of which these |
last are capable. are limited and peculiar
to each species, and there seems to be no |
general ncwer of adapting these to any
great variety of purposes. oEof profting |
by the experience of others. when a /
particular adaptation of means to ends,
OF actions to circumstances, is made by
an individual, the rest do not seem to
profit by it; SO that there is no proof
that any species or race among the lower
ever makes uoL,ntary advance
towards an improvement or alteration of
its condition. That notifications in
structure and instincts may be induced
by circumstances, in some of the most
mprovable species, such as the dog, has
been shown by abundant evidence; and
these notifications, if connected with
the original habits and instincts Of the
species, may be hereditarily transmitted.
There is ample proof that the same is the
case in regard both to tine corporeal
structure and physical endowments Of
man. Under tho influence of education
physical and mental, continued through
successive generations, tho capabilities of