A first book in organic evolutionShute, D. Kerfoot (Daniel Kerfoot)
Science
A first book in organic evolution
Shute, D. Kerfoot (Daniel Kerfoot)
Evolution
In the course of ages, through minute gradations, the first gill-slit and
portions of its adjacent bars were molded for purposes of hearing. In
man there are two passages leading to the drum or middle ear; one is the
external auditory canal (the opening which is seen in what is popularly
called the ear), and the other is a canal leading from the throat to the
middle ear. In the adult these two channels are partitioned off from
each other by the membrane of the drum. These canals are the counterpart
or homologues of the spiracle associated in the shark with the first
gill-slit. The external ear is developed by the coalescence of six
rounded tubercles appearing in the bars or branchial arches that surround
the first gill-slit. In the course of ages the remaining gill-bars
(branchial arches) were also modified for special uses.
In relation with the external ear of man are found rudimentary muscles
that are no longer useful and ordinarily are not under the control of
the will. These muscles are the exact counterparts of well developed
functional muscles found in great numbers of the lower animals. They are
present in man as vestigial structures, because he is descended from
animals in whom these muscles were well developed and functional.
The anatomy of man reveals so many additional vestigial structures
that we may look upon him as a museum of obsolete anatomies; he is
an old curiosity shop containing many discarded tools, many outgrown
and aborted organs. The lower animals as well as man contain so many
useless (vestigial) structures among their useful organs, and they are
so significant of a former state of things in which they were useful,
that anatomists are willing to stake the theory of evolution upon their
presence alone. Evolution explains a multitude of other facts about man
that are inexplicable on any other theory.
[Illustration: FIG. 19. Brain of Fish (Bluefish). A, dorsal view; B, side
view; of, olfactory lobe; cr, cerebrum; ol, optic lobes; cb, cerebellum;
m, medulla; th, thalami.]
In addition to pointing out the possible track along which man has
evolved from a primitive protozoan it would be interesting as well as
exceedingly instructive to trace the development of each structure and
organ in his body. But the subject is a vast one, and cannot be presented
here even in briefest outline. Yet it will be very valuable to trace the
unfolding of one organ, and that the highest, as a sample of what occurs
with every part of the body. I refer to the _development of the brain_.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BRAIN IN PHYLOGENY AND ONTOGENY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account