It is therefore credible that the universe, and all things in it, were made for the Gods and for men.
But we may yet more easily comprehend that the Gods have taken great care of the interests and welfare of men, if we examine thoroughly into the structure of the body, and the form and perfection of human nature.
There are three things absolutely necessary for the support of life--to eat, to drink, and to breathe.

For these operations the mouth is most aptly framed, which, by the assistance of the nostrils, draws in the more air.
LIV.

The teeth are there placed to divide and grind the food.[231] The fore-teeth, being sharp and opposite to each other, cut it asunder, and the hind-teeth (called the grinders) chew it, in which office the tongue seems to assist.

At the root of the tongue is the gullet, which receives whatever is swallowed: it touches the tonsils on each side, and terminates at the interior extremity of the palate.

When, by the motions of the tongue, the food is forced into this passage, it descends, and those parts of the gullet which are below it are dilated, and those above are contracted.