New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-04
SCIENCE AGAINST NATURE.

Nothing Is more wonderful than the ceaseless
efforts OF Nature to adapt all her creatures TO
their environment Whatever the conditions in
which they have to live she strives to suit the
capacities OF her offspring to them. She changes
color and form and functions to meet new ex-
teinal ARRANGEMENTS, even with the lowlic5t or
ganisms In man she not only proceeds thus, but
by act n upon his intelligence she brings new
modifying forces to bear upon the surroundings
From time to time, when gradual outside pressure
OF one kind or another has trammeled man. she
suggests to him ideas the working out OF which
solves problems which are perplexins him. Among
such problems there is none more difficult than
the pro, iding of daily bread for everybody; for.
al notty Week observed with characteristic astute
ness "1hcre's nothin' more regular in comm
TOT I'D than dinncrtime, and nothn more
ON OCULAR than dinner 1t Is obvious that IL
ms llxind could live without eating. could
assmilate nourishment from the air and water
70 plants largely do the progress OF civilization
would be greatly accelerated, and nearly all the
tragedy would be eliminated from the struggle for
existence.
Now certain indications have Of late arisen to
warrant the belief that Nature has undertaken the
solution of this mOmentous question Eyeryon
must have noticed the curious epidemic OF pro-
fessional star, alton which has broken out In
Europe Succt, Meracd, and many other as
prants for inantion trying to break the record
OF abstention. This, however, is but one phase Of
the question. Nature may have prompted this
outbreak OF fasting but her clear vision must
have revealed TO her the central truth that 80
long as men come into the world furnished with
eating machinery they win continue to eat Fer
haps she brought the matter to its most practical
bearings by asking herself-What Is the Ideal
h.
answer "A creature without a mouth and the
light derived from introspection she forthwith
applied to tle evolution Of the New Species 1t
was in this great city that the bold experiment
was made In O ward Of New-YorlS hospital a
few days ago baby was born on the new pattern.
This baby had no mouth. Where In the old
fashioned article of humanity the unruly member
wags was In this infant level surface of face.
II cannot be said that the child's popularity en-
HANGED its beauty. The expression was remark
able, but not alluring. But IL could not cry and
neither could it eat, and IL the scientific people
had only let Nature alone the most interesting
and important results would have ensued.
Science however, 10 never satisfied until 1t has
rot to the bottom Of everything, so Just because
This baby had no mouth, curiosity to lSnow what
wax behind its blank wall Of face impeed those
,esxy doctors 10 cut hole and look In Nature
clearly ne .er intended that this should be done
for she had rugged the youngster out with jury
mouth, so to speak, in converting one OF his
nostrils into q possible extra almentary tube
This was probably put in not SO much for publica-
ton, or actual use for guarantee of good
faith that Is. resource against death from
innutrition But this tho doctors could not per-
ceive, and 30 they went to work to make an
artificial mouth for the baby. and thus brought
Is back into tho abject condition In which al
humanity lnngushes. 1t Is to be hoped that Ma
turo win not be discouraged by this mschievoui
interference with her work but that she vii
pcrsevere In tho manufacture OF mouthlcss Board
error rather Babie-untI the world can soe for