90 NATURAL SCIENCE [August 



questions in Boston and Cambridge, U.S.A., and the following is a 

 brief abstract of the arguments employed in the lecture referred 

 to, lately delivered in these two cities. 



(1) Men and women, like the males and females of most 

 animals, show by their organisation that they have been evolved 

 from a type in which both sexes were combined in the same 

 individual. The separation of the sexes did not destroy this dual 

 nature, as is demonstrated by the development of secondary male 

 characters in the old age of many species of animals and of women 

 in extreme age, and of feminine characters in aged men. This 

 opinion can also be supported by the structure of the tissue cells in 

 the body, the nuclei of which are made up of paternal and maternal 

 parts. This dual structure enables us to understand the fact that 

 secondary sexual characters are latent in both males and females, and 

 liable to make their appearance after the reproductive period is 

 passed through, or before this time and prematurely in abnormal 

 individuals, or perhaps under certain conditions of habit or sur- 

 roundings. 



The maternal (in larger degree or wholly feminine) parts of the 

 nuclei are certainly prepotent during the entire reproductive or 

 adult stage of growth, and their constant employment in the 

 performance of feminine functions prevents the development of 

 latent male characters. During this time the paternal (in larger 

 degree or wholly male) parts of the nuclei have remained inert and 

 may be supposed to be still capable of multiplying by division and 

 producing extra growths, thus even in old age building up secondary 

 male characters, such as the comb, wattles, etc., in some birds, or 

 giving rise to secondary male characteristics in old women. This 

 may also take place prematurely through suppression of the natural 

 functions, either by change of habits or by surgical or other 

 artificial operations. These statements apply equally well to men, 

 and some of the most remarkable examples are to be found in this 

 sex, but the dangers of feminisation to the men, although possibly 

 greater than we now suppose, do not seem at least to be so im- 

 portant or threatening as those that lie in the possible future of the 

 women. These are striking out into new paths, and are being 

 helped by men who are equally ignorant with themselves of the 

 nature of their own organisation and of the possible dangers to their 

 race of the success of their efforts. 



(2) In the early history of mankind the women and men led 

 lives more nearly alike and were consequently more alike physically 

 and mentally, than they have become subsequently in the history of 

 highly civilised peoples. This divergence of the sexes is a marked 

 characteristic of progression among highly civilised races. Co- 

 education of the sexes, occupations of certain kinds, and woman 



