214 THE MENDEL JOURNAL 



there is no dress of any colour whatsoever ; and, similarly, 

 without a male there will be no of?spring, either daughters or 

 sons. This part of the theory asks us to accept too much. It 

 asks us to believe that there is a fundamental divergence in the 

 nature of male and female sex-cells. We do not think that the 

 evidence as a whole lends any support to that assumption. 



The central part of Dr. Kumley Dawson's theory is that the 

 right ovary of the woman forms egg-cells which carry the male 

 characters, while the left one forms egg-cells which carry the female 

 characters. Consequent!}', an individual who developes from a 

 right ovum must be a male, and one who developes from a left 

 ovum will be a female. He then further postulates that ovula- 

 tion occurs from each ovary on alternate months, so that if 

 conception occurs on one month a boy may be born, while if it 

 occurs the month after or the month before a cirl will result. In 

 support of his theory he adduces a great deal of very interesting 

 facts, mainly of a clinical nature. And it can be said that he 

 has produced a strong prima facie case in its support. 



But there are certain general considerations which tell against 

 it. The theory implies that there is a fundamental difference in 

 the structure of the right and left ovaries. It implies a physio- 

 logical and structural asymmetry of a very primary nature. 

 It may be true that such an asymmetry can be demonstrated, 

 because the right ovary is slightly larger than the left. But an 

 asymmetry of mere size does not necessarily imply the same 

 thing as one of diverse (jualities. This latter asymmetry can only 

 be due to some early asymmetrical cell division in the develop- 

 ment of the individual. Are we justified Jn believing that such 

 an asymmetry is a normal event in the structure of woman ? The 

 assumed existence of alternative ovulation is again another 

 hvpothesis which involves this asymmetric physiolosical activity. 

 The evidence derived from lower mammalia does not to any great 

 degree support it. Dr. Rumley Dawson, however, raises woman 

 to a pedestal, and will not admit that her physiology is akin to 

 that of lower animals. Of course, the objection to the theory on 

 the ground of asymmetry is, it must be remembered, wholly an 

 a 'priori one. And very marked asymmetrical arrangements are 

 known, as quite normal affairs, in both Man and lower forms. In 

 birds and dogfishes there is only one ovary, and in the former only 

 one oviduct also ; and, in Man, the functional speech centre in 

 the brain is situated in the left side. 



The reader must, however, read the book himself, and con- 

 sider the evidence brought forward on behalf of the theory. 

 The author also considers various objections which have been 

 brought forward against his theory. He has collected a large 

 amount of clinical information, and has brought it together in 



