The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-04-14
AM LIle OrIglnatIng in Ergs.

In the first place, Mt the very outset,
says Prof. Agassiz in late lecture, We
find one singular, universal fact, All
animals, without exception, high or low,
OF whatever ultimate completely or
simplicity Of structure, originate from
eggs, and frcm eggs OF the same char.
acter. l do not mean to be Understood
TINT there is no other mode Of multi.
plying. Some animals, Us corals, for
instance, many hydroids, and other low
organisms, reproduce themselves by
budding or by division Of tho parent
stock. But they also, at some time OF
other, produce eggs, and thus bear their
testimony to the general law OF nature
which applies to the whole animal king
dom without exception. Indeed, the
seed in plants has the same structure as
the so.called ovarian egg in animals,
and thus we may speak Of all organized
beings, vegetable or animal, rs multi
plying by eggs. The discovery that
this great law applies to the higher ami
mails also, is comparatively recent. 1t
is only 90 years since Carl Ernst Won
Baer made his wonderful researches on
the egg Of the dog and rabbit, and an
nOunced that tho mammal has an ovarian
egg identical with that of all other yer.
te6rates and with that OF articulates,
mollusks and radiates. The discovery
OF this universal law that all organized
beings multiply by the same means, is
certainly one OF the greatest and most
startling generalizations Of modern
times. It gives US tho broadest ground
for our inquiry into their ultimate rela-
tons since they have all one starting
point. AT first Il may seem to simplify
the inquiry. But the moment We leave
the point at which all animals seem
alike, and enter upon the various phases
and transformations to be gone through
before they reach the adult condition,
u field Of study opens before us suffi-
cient TO Oil many lifetimes. We come
upon series Of phenomena OF the
deepest interest, but often in their first
aspect very perplexing, There are
transient phaZes in the growth Of the
higher animals during which they re.
sembls tho permanent final conditions
of adult animals lower down in the
same type, having, that is, like struc.
turc, but OF inferior development.
These comparisons cannot, however, be
carried on outside the limits OF ono and
the same type. To this circumscription
Of the law l alluded when, in the earlier
part OF my lecture, spoke Of limita,
lions in the natural fundamental reIa,
tons OF animals. You may compare q
Quadruped in certain phases OF Its
growth with theadult condition OF some
lower kinds OF vertebrates and be
amazed at the resemblance, but you can
not carry the comparison over into the
type OF articulAtes or into any other
type OF the animal kingdom based upon
different plan. Within each type the
development has character MS distinct
Ms the plan on which the type is built.
An insect, for instqnce, can never at any
time OF its Development, after it has
passed out OF that universal condition
OF the ovarian egg to which I alluded
be compared TO m oyster or fish, bu
it passes through phases where il cal
hardly be distinguished from a worm
that is, in the course Of its development
. it bears transient likeness to the adul
, condition Of being standing lower il
the type OF articulRtes TO which the,
both belong. In short, every ANNA
belonging TO my one OF the highel
groups, during the transformations b,
which he reaches the adult state may
pass through modified conditions, il
each Of which he resembles some being
OF his own type Of the animal kingdom
forwhom that condition isiinal. Enough
is known Of the transformations OF AMI
mails now to make this generalization I
perfectly trustworthy one, although thu
number OF illustrations is small. The
study Of embryology is exceedingl,
difficult, and the sacrifice Of specimen
is very great in order to obtain the com
plete history Of the growth Of any on,
animal. The progress OF these inyesti
cations must necessarily be slow, be
cause thoyare solaborious andso costly
hut they have alreadyassumed sequcnct
and conference enough to afford sount
bnsis for the result l have Just given
While the phases Of growth and resem
blance have been followed, the limita
tons keeping each primary type within
its own boundaries have not been suili
GENTLY considered, and are, indeed
generally wholly lost sight Of. Thi
carelesSness Of investigation or OF state
ment gives currency to broad gencnlli
cations, partially trie indeed, but falls,
when they are made to cover too wide {
ground.