Essays on Life 



evidence collected by Mr. Darwin and a host 

 of other writers, to the effect that mutilations 

 are sometimes inherited, than does Mr. Wal- 

 lace, who says that, " as regards mutilations, 

 it is generally admitted that they are not in- 

 herited, and there is ample evidence on this 

 point." It is indeed generally admitted that 

 mutilations, when not followed by disease, are 

 very rarely, if ever, inherited ; and Mr. Wal- 

 lace's appeal to the "ample evidence" which 

 he alleges to exist on this head, is much as 

 though he should say that there is ample 

 evidence to show that the days are longer in 

 summer than in winter. "Nevertheless," he 

 continues, "a few cases of apparent inheritance 

 of mutilations have been recorded, and these, 

 if trustworthy, are difficulties in the way of 

 the theory." . . . " The often-quoted case of a 

 disease induced by mutilation being inherited 

 (Brown-Sequard's epileptic guinea-pigs) has 

 been discussed by Professor Weismann and 

 shown to be not conclusive. The mutilation 

 itself a section of certain nerves was never 

 inherited, but the resulting epilepsy, or a 

 general state of weakness, deformity, or sores, 



