The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-08-28
Ernest HaGCkeI
on Last Words
on Evolution"
CHAPTER II.
THE STRUGGLE OVER OUR GEN.
EALOGiCAL TREE.
Our Ape-ReIatives and the Vertebrate
Stem.
CHAPTER II.
Continued from previous issue.)


Continued from previous issue.)
Encouraged by these great advanc-
es of modern phylogeny, and with the
support of many new discoveries in
comparative anatomy and embryology,
in which a number of distinguished
observers were at work, was able
in 1874 to venture on the first attempt
to trace continuously the whole story
of mans evolution. In doing so,
took my stand on the firm ground of
the biogenetic law, seeking to give a
phylogenetic cause, for each fact of
embryology. My Evolution Man,
which made the first attempt to &C
complish this difficult task, was ma
terially improved and enlarged as new
and important discoveries were made
The latest edition C1903 1904 in Eng
lishD contains thirty chapters distrib-
uted in two volumes, the first of
which deals with embryology Cor on
togeny), and the second with the de-
velopment of species Cor phylogeny).
Tho l was quite conscious that
there were bound to be gaps and
weak points in these first attempts to
frame natural anthropogeny, l had
hoped they would have some influ-
ence on modern anthropology, and
especially that the first sketches of q
genealogical tree of the animal world
would prove stimulus to fresh re-
reach and improvement. In this /
was much mistaken. The dominant
school of anthropology, especially in
Germany, declined to suffer the in
PRODUCTION of the theory Of evolution
declaring 1t to be an unfounded n.y.
pothesis, and described our carefully
prepared ancestral trees as mere fig-
ments. This was due, in the first
place, to the. great authority of the
founder and president for many
years. of the German Anthropological
Society, Rudolf Virohow, as l briefly
pointed out in the previous chapter.
In view of the great regard that is
felt for this distinguished scientist.
and the extent to which his powerful
| opposition prevented the spread of
the theory, it is necessary to deal
more fully with his position on the
subject. l am still further constrain-
ed to do this because of the errone-
GUS views of it that are circulating,
and my own fifty years acquaintance
with my eminent teacher enables me
to put them right
Not one of virchow's numerous pu-
pills and friends can appreciate more
than ] do his real services to medi-
cal science. His Cellular Pathology
| 1889. his thorough application OF
! the cell-theory to the science of dis
ease, is, in my opinion, one OF the
greatest advances made by modern
medicine. | had the good fortune to
begin my medical studies at Wurtz-
burg In 1852, and to spend six valu-
able terms under the personal guild
ance of four biologists of the first
rank-tAlbert Kolliker, Rudolf Vir-
chow, Franz Leydig and Carl Gegen-
baur The great stimulus that I re-
ceived from these distinguished mas
tiers in every branch of comparative
and microscopic biology was the start
| ing-point of my whole training in that
science, and enabled me subsequently
to follow with ease the higher intel
lectual flight of Johannes Muller.
From Virchow especially learned.
not only the analytic art of careful
observation and judicious appreciation
Of the detailed facts of anatomy, but
also the conception of the whole hui
man frame, the profound conviction
of the unity of our nature, the insep-
arabic connection of body and mind,
| to which Virchow gave fine express
sion in his classic essay on "The Ef-
forts to bring about Unity in Scienti-
lic Medicine" (1S49). The leading ar
ticles which he wrote at that time for
the Journal of Pathological Anatomy
and Physiology, which he had found
| ed, contain much new insight into the
wonders of life, and number of ex-
cellent general reflections on their
signi6cance-pregnant ideas that we
| can make direct use of for Monistic
purposes. In the controversy that
! broke out between empirical ration
alism and materialism and the older
vitalism and mysticism, he took the
side of the former, and fought to-
gether with Jacob Moleschott, c ar
Vogt, and Ludwig Buchner. v ~,
the firm conviction of the unitv of or
ganic and inorganic nature OF me
chanical character of All vital and
psychic activity, which III have always
held to be the foundation Of my Mon.
istic system, in great measure to
Virchow's teachtn9 and the exhaust.
i've conversations | had with him
when / was >'his assistant The pro.
found views of the nature of the cell
and the Independent individuality OF
these elementary organisms, which
he advanced in his great work ceIlu.
lar Pathology, remained guiding prin-
ciples for me in the Drolongad atudias