RATIONAL LIFE 293 



important that full value be assigned to the evidence 

 for deterioration in animal life. 



In treating of reversion as a fact noted by the 

 natural historian, Darwin points to the phenomena of 

 arrested growth as a phase of reversion, in a measure 

 an illustration of a lower structural stage. 1 It is 

 doubtful if these facts can be taken as evidence for 

 reversion. Darwin next refers to variations occasion 

 ally appearing in human structure, which wear an 

 aspect of reversion. He refers to occasional peculi 

 arities in the formation of bone, formation of teeth, 

 and arrangements of muscles, characteristic of the apes. 

 These facts have more obvious value, but they are all 

 variations in organic structure, having no direct bear 

 ing on the question now before us. This Mr. Darwin 

 indicates when, at the close of the discussion, he says, 

 These various cases of reversion are so closely re 

 lated to those of rudimentary organs given in the 

 first chapter, that many of them might have been 

 indifferently introduced either there or here. 2 The 

 only other passage of consequence is that in which 

 the effects of civilisation on the progress of our race 

 arc considered. Here it is pointed out that although 

 civilisation checks in many ways the action of natural 

 selection, it apparently favours the better development 

 of the body, by means of good food, and the freedom 

 from occasional hardships. This may be inferred 

 from civilised men having been found, wherever com 

 pared, to be physically stronger than savages. 3 Mr. 

 Darwin approaches more closely to the present stages 

 of our argument when he touches on the relations of 

 civilisation to moral life, remarking, in regard to the 



1 Descent of Man, p. 36. 2 Ib. p. 43. 3 76. p. 135. 



