The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-01-30
DIR. Baker Tackles DR.. Crumit.
$50, Darwin, if you can, my boy,
q give us back our tails"
To the. Editor of The Standard :

10 the Editor Of the standard
Having read DR.. Crumits lecture on
physiology, propose in this article to
notice some points on which L would
differ with him, not for the sake of need
less fault finding, but for the diffusion of
opinions based, l think, upon more
correct Interpretation of natural facts. |
have differed with the Dr. before, and
found him always taking criticism kind
ly. and candidly giving it up when con-
vinced of his errors; consequently, l
make these criticisms with more free
dom.
While perfectly agree with him in
urging the necessity of teaching physiol-
ogy in the common schools, and like him
can now at least suggest no plan OF
teaching it, must disagree with him, or
rather with his deductions from the
comparative anatomy of the vertebral
column and its articulation with the
occiput in man and some of the higher
animals, with particular reference to the
erect attitude. He refers to the obiiqui-
ty of the condyles of the occipital bone,
which is simply an evidence of the 'adap-
tation of the anatomy of a being to the
degree of its development, and means of
locomotion. Should the horse ever de-
velop to equal the Chimpanze, and con-
sequently assume semierect attitude,
also be 81 degrees instead of 80. The IA
cial angle also would change with an i'm
proved existence He regards it as an
impossibility for a man on all fours to
take his food off the ground as the ami
mails do; not much, for some negroes
would do it. And still less would it be
if he continued to live in that position
for several generations.
Will the Dr. compare the facial angle,
or rather the length of snout of a thistle
digging hog with that of an improved
Berkshire or Chesterwhite. The effect
of little more developing is there quite
visible
He refers to the comparative absence
in man of that large ligament which sup
ports the head of an animal; but there is
rudiment of it there. 1t is simply
small from lack of use, like that which
occurs in the muscles of a limb above q
stiff joint, or the snout of the hog becom-
ing shorter and smaller where its happy
possessor is no longer compelled to root
for his living as his ancestors did. well
known example of the dwarhng OF what
doubtless were once fully developed or
gans for the want of use occurs in the
rudimentary eyes and ears OF fish IN sub
terranean streams.
He introduces the fact of the orang-
outang having five lumber vertebra as an
insuperable objection to the theory of
Darwin. The fact is Mr.. Darwin believes
the Asiatic monkey, and not the orang-
outang TO be the early progenitor of the
human family. But supposing our fore
fathers to have been orangs. The DR.. S
objections would not have been so serious
as he supposes. 1t is the rule of nature
according to Darwin, that an unnecessa-
ry or rather inactive organ first becomes
atropOlized. After number OF genera
tions rudimentary, and afterwards in
some individuals it is entirely wanting.
This applies to bones as well as any 9th
er part of the body. The number OF hui
man bones is variable. The sacrum may
have originally consisted of four or six
bones instead of five. The coccyx is also
subject to variations. Considering this so
the rudiment of q tail, we find it fully
developed with % perfect bones in some
monkeys, and in some species it may be
rudimentary or short. The same occa-
sionally occurs with dogs. Regarding
the teeth..as bones, we find the so-called
wisdom teeth in civilized life becoming