Mother Truth's Melodies Part 14

We all have teeth quite sharp and strong, With which to chew our food, And in the mouth are glands and glands-- Yes, quite a numerous brood.

These glands pour out saliva, free, To moisten what we eat And then a trap-door at the throat Performs a wondrous feat

In guiding all the food along Into the Esophagus, And thence to stomach through a pa.s.s Called Cardiac Orifice.

And here 'tis mixed with Gastric Juice, And into chyme is churned Then through the gateway, Pylorus, As wiser ones have learned.

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'Tis in the Duodenum now, Where it is mixed with Bile, And with the Pancreatic juice, Which changes it to Chyle.

This Chyle flows on, and all that's fit For nourishment and growth, Is taken up by Lacteals, Or "tubes with many a mouth."

These lead to the Thoracic Duct, Which holds a spoonful large, And from this Duct a pipe proceeds Through which it may discharge.

Into the great Sub-clavian vein, Which to the Heart doth lead, Whence it is sent into the Lungs, And into good blood made.

Then back into the Heart it flows, The muscles there contract, And pump it into Arteries, Which wind to every part.

We'd like to tell about the Bones, The Ribs and Vertebras, The Clavicle, or Collar-bone, Breast-bone, and Scapulae;

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Of hinge, and ball-and-socket joints; Of muscles, tendons, skin, Of lungs and veins and arteries, Of nerves and heart and brain.

But, Ah! we should your patience tire, Were we the whole to tell, So, waiting till another time, We bid you now, farewell.

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_THE RATTLE OF THE BONES_.

How many bones in the human face?

FOURTEEN, when they're all in place.

How many bones in the human head?

EIGHT, my child, as I've often said.

How many bones in the human ear?

THREE in each; and they help to hear.

[Footnote: Standard authorities give three, though latest works say four.]

How many bones in the human spine?

TWENTY-SIX; like a climbing vine.

How many bones of the human chest?

TWENTY-FOUR ribs and TWO of the rest.

How many bones the shoulders, bind?

Two in _each_; one before, one behind.

How many bones in the human arm?

In _each_ arm, ONE; TWO in _each_ fore-arm.

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How many bones in the human wrist?

EIGHT in _each_, if none are missed.

How many bones in the palm of the hand?

FIVE in _each_, with many a band.

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How many bones in the fingers ten?

TWENTY-EIGHT, and by joints they bend.

How many bones in the human hip?

ONE in _each_; like a dish they dip.

How many bones in the human thigh?

ONE in _each_, and deep they lie.

How many bones in the human knees?

ONE in _each_, the knee-pan, please.

How many bones in the leg from knee?

Two in _each_, we can plainly see.

How many bones in the ankle strong?

SEVEN in _each_, but none are long.

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How many bones in the ball of the foot?

FIVE in _each_; as in palms were put.

How many bones in the toes half-a-score?

TWENTY-EIGHT, and there are no more.

And now, all together, these many bones, fix, And they count in the body TWO HUNDRED and Six.

And then we have, in the human mouth, Of upper and under, THIRTY-TWO TEETH.