A SUBJECT OF GENERAL EDUCATION 3 



tions regarding animals and their relation to nature 

 apply also to the human body and to the question of 

 man's place in nature. 



This truth was a long time gaining credence since 

 it was in conflict with ideas that had prevailed for 

 centuries and its final acceptance brought a revolu- 

 tion of opinion. 



The recognition of this oneness of nature, especially 

 as applied to the animal world, is one of the most 

 dramatic results of scientific advancement. It is 

 continually illustrated in a great variety of rela- 

 tions : the similarity of stages of embryonic develop- 

 ment of all animals, the gradual building of body and 

 of mind, the ultimate bearing of these questions on 

 human origin and destiny. It led to the analysis of 

 the phenomena of life, reduced to their simplest 

 expression in the lower organisms, in order to throw 

 light on the vital activities of higher animals. It also 

 led to including man in the scheme of organic evolu- 

 tion and opened many other new questions. 



Naturally, a subject of such wide scope and of 

 such varied aspects presents particular difficulties of 

 treatment and it is further complicated by the 

 traditional method of the study of animal forms to 

 the exclusion of other major topics. The question of 



