Bones of the Skull -- this illustration gives an accurate and faithful representation of the head, face and neck, surrounded by an outline of the fleshy parts as they appear in the human frame. The bones of the head, eight in number, constitute the skull, and those of the face, 14 and number, compose a strong, hard bony case, which encloses and affords a suitable protection for the brain and the four organs a special sense, viz.: site, smell, taste and hearing. All of these bones are in movable, except the lower jaw, which moves by means of a hinge-joint, and permits of the opening and closing of the mouth.

One of the things that struck me as I dictated this last segment (for my readers information I am using Dragon Naturally Speaking to dictate this text as well as my views on the text) was the large number of commas as used in this paragraph. By my count there were 15 used in this paragraph which had three sentences. Now this book in general uses the coma extensively and reminds me of a style of writing that I was taught in grade school shortly before several rules of language were simplified. For example when I was in grade school I was taught that a conjunction that included the word "and" should have a coma in between each item building up to the conjunction including the last word that preceded the word "and." Back then I would've drafted this sentence as follows: I went to the store, the post office, the car wash, and the bank. Later in high school some economy of writing came about and decreased 1 of the commas needed in writing. I don't know when or why this occurred, but I do recall several grammar teachers remarking on the fact and teach in is the new writing style. Back then I didn't follow the news quite to the extent that I do today and so I do not recall whether there was a boost in the global economy due to the increased productivity allowed workers especially "knowledge workers" who would not have had to write, type or dictate quite as many commas. In fact they would have one less coma to write. Can you imagine what everyone did with all that extra time saved him from writing? Now honestly one coma probably to make that big of a difference. But now as I read the library of health I realize that over the last 82 a hundred years the world hasn't saved just one coma; they have saved close to a dozen per paragraph. Computers may have brought a significant amount of productivity to the workforce, but just imagine how much we've saved over the last hundred years writing fewer comas. I wonder when the majority of the comas as were lost. Maybe it was the result of World War I or World War II or the combination of both wars. It's possible that to expedite communications Society had to adapt and reduce the number of dits in das used in a telegraph. The war to end all wars may have failed in Indian all wars, but it may have succeeded in putting an end to a few extra comas.

Additional Articles from the Book of Medicine:

• THE FOOT | IT’S MECHANISM AND IT’S WONDERFUL ENDOWMENTS- Arrangement and Uses of the Foot
  
  

  THE FOOT; IT’S MECHANISM AND IT’S WONDERFUL ENDOWMENTS.

  Arrangement and Uses of the Foot. — in this exquisite colored engraving is represented the human foot, the organ by which we stand, walk or run. Look at it carefully, aye, critically, and see if you can duplicate it in the whole range of man’s achievements! The general arrangement of the bony framework of the foot, as seen in the illustration, is strikingly like that of the hand. The graceful arch of the foot, composed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones, is firmly joined together by a thick layer of cartilaginous structure, not only preventing a liability to displacement, but giving it in elasticity, sprightliness and strengthen which could never be attained by single flat bone. In the next colored illustration we have a section of the foot, showing its architectural dignity and perfection. But it’s under or plantar surface are seen stretching from the heel forward towards the toes a number of ligaments, the principal one of which is the plantar ligament, and possesses great strength and elasticity.

  Its odd but for centuries the foot has received less attention that other parts of the body, even though good health and well being are directly related to the foot.  People are more likely to under go a colon cleanse procedure than take simple steps to care for their feet and keep them health.

• Muscular Arrangement and Blood Supply
  
  

  Muscles of the Trunk of the Human Body.

  Muscular Arrangement and Blood Supply.  — In this exquisite and magnificent colored engraving we had a grand view of the wonderful arrangement of the muscles of the trunk of the human body, together with the muscular arrangement of the arms and likewise their blood supply.  The trunk of the body is divided into two compartments — the thorax and the abdomen.

  I believe this opening segment is referring to the first image and charred two.  (see chart 2 first picture  )

  Now I am not a doctor nor I are very good artist, but as I look at this drawing or engraving as it’s referred to it seemed a little basic to me.  Sure I’m used to souped-up graphics and a number of other things that it developed in the last 90 years.  That difference I suppose is one of the remarkable things about the book.  I often point out the difference and grammar and punctuation and perspective to need a little bit and knowledge.
  This is another example of cultural differences spanning 90 years of time.  90 years ago this might have been a very accurate and high-tech picture, well today and 2007 it looks extremely basic almost like something that a grade school student might color with a crayon.

  It may be a little trite but like to point out also a diagram of the belly button, which strikes me as rather ludicrous looking even though it’s not all that bad.  Maybe it’s the two-dimensional rendering of the belly button that strikes me, or maybe it’s the juxtaposition of a section of skin on top of a section of the torso that has no skin.  I’m not really sure but it seems little funny to me.

• Who Were the People that wrote the Book of Medicine?
  
  

  I haven’t had a lot of time to look into the authors of the book of medicine. One of the side projects I’d like to tackle with this book is identifying, who these people were that authored and edited the book, identify where they lived and worked and where they came from. Fortunately utilizing the powers of sites such as ancestry.com I can actually trace and get access to public records such as census records that might indicate who they were where they lived and what their lives were like. If they were recent immigrants to the United States or if they lived in the United Kingdom or whether they were from Germany or Ireland, etc.

  I’d like to also determine where they went to school to learn medicine, I will admit that I have no idea how to go about the second part but I’m hoping that the first inquiry provides more background information that might lead to information on the second part.

  Who knows it could even be possible that I will be able to find some people that knew them, maybe some relatives that will be able provides a personal perspective on the authors of this book. Who knows I might even come across these people running a Pigeon Forge vacation rentals company, or teaching at a university today or maybe they’re even somebody I know I just haven’t made the connection.