PRESENT PROBLEMS OF PHYSIOLOGY 423 



researches upon the degeneration and regeneration of peripheral 

 nerve-fibers have added greatly to the significance of his anatomical 

 work, and will insure the recognition of the importance of the 

 newer ideas concerning the physiological mechanisms of the nerv- 

 ous system. While I agree most heartily with Verworn l that 

 physiology should claim "vollstandige Freiheit in der Wahl des 

 Objekts und in der Wahl der Methoden," I find it necessary to supple- 

 ment this demand by the restriction that the methods, to be physi- 

 ological, must be experimental. This peculiarity constitutes the 

 shibboleth that serves to distinguish the physiologist from his 

 biological comrades. So long as any physiologist answers to this 

 designation, he should be recognized as a worthy member of our 

 guild. The tendency sometimes exhibited by our most active and 

 prominent workers, to magnify the importance of their own, per- 

 haps newer, methods, by contemptuous or despairing criticism of 

 the methods employed by other workers, seems to me not only 

 ungenerous and unjustifiable, but even positively injurious to the 

 advancement of our science. There is opportunity for important 

 results from all good methods whether old or new, and he whose 

 training or opportunities enable him to do his best work along 

 well-established lines need not be discouraged or diverted in his 

 labors because newer modes are the sensation of the hour. Our 

 greatest teachers have been characterized always by a large-minded 

 sympathy for work of all kinds so long as it is well conceived and 

 well executed. 



In all the biological sciences there is an opportunity for physio- 

 logical work. Hypotheses based upon anatomical facts call for the 

 test of experiment, and the methods that suffice in the beginning 

 may be relatively simple, so that little or no technical training is 

 required for the work so far as the experimental side is concerned. 

 The experimental zoologist has entered upon such a field. For no 

 good reason he has selected this designation, which seems to suggest 

 the formation of a new specialty. As a matter of fact, experi- 

 mental work upon animals is necessarily physiological, and the 

 experimental zoologist must look for his methods and implements 

 to the science of physiology. Work of this kind has all the fascina- 

 tions of pioneer life; it holds out the possibility of rich discovery, 

 of unexpected finds, and will doubtless attract from physiology 

 and from anatomy the adventurous spirits with large ideas, together 

 with many who are simply dissatisfied with conditions as they are. 

 I cannot, however, sympathize with those who, stirred by the results 

 already reported, seem to feel that all of the energy and ability of 

 our subject should be diverted to this kind of work. On the con- 

 trary, however important and attractive this work may be, it is 



1 Loc. tit. 



