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. As to the polydactylous
quadrupeds, none of them have huckle-bones. For if they had they would
not be polydactylous, but the divisions of the foot would only
extend to that amount of its breadth which was covered by the
huckle-bone. Thus it is that most of the animals that have
huckle-bones are cloven-hoofed.
Of all animals man has the largest foot in proportion to the size of
the body. This is only what might be expected. For seeing that he is
the only animal that stands erect, the two feet which are intended
to bear all the weight of the body must be both long and broad.
Equally intelligible is it that the proportion between the size of the
fingers and that of the whole hand should be inverted in the case of
the toes and feet. For the function of the hands is to take hold of
objects and retain them by pressure; so that the fingers require to be
long. For it is by its flexed portion that the hand grasps an
object. But the function of the feet is to enable us to stand
securely, and for this the undivided part of the foot requires to be
of larger size than the toes. However, it is better for the
extremity to be divided than to be undivided. For in an undivided foot
disease of any one part would extend to the whole organ; whereas, if
the foot be divided into separate digits, there is not an equal
liability to such an occurrence. The digits, again, by being short
would be less liable to injury
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