[Proc. Rot. Soc. Victoria, 23 (N.S.), Pt. II., 1911.] 



Art. XXVIII. — Morpliology of the Vermiform 

 Appendix} 



By WALTER STAPLEY, M.D., D.V.Sc, M.R.C.V.S. 



(Lecturer on Anatomy and Surgery in the Veterinary School, 

 University of Melbourne), 



J. C. LEWIS, B.V.Sc. 



(Caroline Kay Scholar). 



(Eead 10th November, 1910). 

 [With Plates LXVI.-LXXVa.] 



Since Owen's time, but more particularly during recent years, 

 comparative anatomy applied to the vermiform appendix has 

 been in a state of retrogression. This fact is marked by the 

 disappearance from current literature of description of the 

 vermiform appendix of the wombat. (Fig 1.) 



Owen, by his great ability, the possession of John Hunter's 

 collection and the friendship of the Prince Consort, was able 

 to employ comparative anatomy effectively. Until late in life, 

 Owen was unhampered by religious controversy. When Huxley 

 crushed the opposition of Owen to the law of evolution a 

 serious setback to comparative anatomy was unconsciously 

 given, Owen being at that time the authority on that branch 

 of science. Thus comparative anatomy, upon which the law of 

 evolution is largely based, became neglected on the acceptance 

 of that law. 



Since Owen's time those who have written on the comparative 

 anatomy of the appendix have confused minute structure with 

 shape. The work of Owen and Treves, because of its great 

 intrinsic wox-th, deserves close study. The comparative anatomy 



1 The work was done in the Veterinary Kesearih Institute, Universitv of Melbourne, 

 and in the Zoolojcical Gardens, Melbomne. 



