The foregoing slender contribution to the comparative anatomy and
physiology of bursæ is sufficient to show that at certain important
and “critical” points in the mammalian anatomy, efficient bursæ are
always present. One cannot indeed conceive the function of the parts
involved being carried on at all without these ingenious contrivances,
and no doubt can exist that in certain of the leading bursæ selection
guides and guards, while use and habit maintain them. Over such as
these “dominance” or the appearance of mutations might perhaps be
supposed to preside, and possibly some useful statistical results might
arise from their study from these points of view. But, between these
major bursæ in man and lower Primates and the undifferentiated sacs
which hardly deserve the name of bursæ, there is a perfect little host
of insignificant structures, which at the first attempt at dominion
over them on the part of Mendel or de Vries would hoist the standard
of revolt. These would even refuse allegiance to Personal Selection
under the persuasive banner, “Educability,” which however valuable
elsewhere, must stand aside in this little province of Nature. I have
thus attempted to “Lyell” this body of facts. Basing the statement on
an analysis of a considerable mass of small facts which no one disputes
I claim that the modifications drawn from normal anatomy on the one
hand and on the other adventitious structures, produced by acknowledged
mechanical forces, are examples of the transmission of modifications,
and illustrate the mode of formation of certain initial variations. In
other regions where Plasto-diēthēsis, as I conceive it, is at work in
producing adapted organisms, there may be included in the hyphenated
area certain factors of heredity, Mendelian, mutational and others, but
not in this group. This is merely an assertion of an opinion though I
submit that there is good evidence for it. Not even the hardest hearted
Weismannian, Mendelian or mutationist, and not even the biometrician
can refuse to this poor little province the required time and
mechanical forces, and, unless an opponent can offer some explanation
more consistent with the facts than that here offered, the proof of
causation is as sound as that shown in the larger one of the direction
of hair.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE PLANTAR ARCH.
The principle of Lyell cannot be applied to this section of my
subject for it is unique in the animal world. There is here a simple
compilation of facts such as the medical schoolboy is supposed to know,
and only requires for its setting forth the valuable expert knowledge
of our predecessors in anatomy. It is indeed a pedestrian chapter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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