def distances_along_curve( X ):
X = np.diff( X, axis=<NUM_LIT:0> )<EOL>return vector_lengths(X,axis=<NUM_LIT:1>)<EOL>
Computes the distance between a set of successive points in *N* dimensions.

Where *X* is an *M* x *N* array or matrix.  The distances between
successive rows is computed.  Distance is the standard Euclidean
distance.