xxii PREFACE. 



tention that has declared itself between us. For on 

 one hand the doctrine of evolution which Virchow 

 attacks has already so far become a sure basis of bio- 

 logical science and part of the most precious mental- 

 stock of cultivated humanity, that neither the ana- 

 themas of the Church nor the contradiction of the 

 greatest scientific authority and such an one is Vir- 

 chow can prevail against it ; and on the other hand 

 most of the arguments which he specially adduces 

 against the theory of descent have been so often dis- 

 cussed and so thoroughly refuted that any renewed 

 discussion seems in fact superfluous. 



Personally, it was in the highest degree repugnant 

 to me to come forward as the opponent of a man 

 whom I learned, a quarter of a century ago, to ac- 

 knowledge and to honour as the reformer of medical 

 science ; a man whose most ardent disciple and most 

 enthusiastic follower I at that time was, with whom I 

 subsequently stood in the closest relation as his assis- 

 tant, and with whom I long after continued in the 

 most friendly intercourse. The more keenly I lamented 

 Virchow's position, for some years past, as the anta- 

 gonist of our modern doctrine of evolution, and the 

 more I felt myself challenged to a reply by his repeated 

 attacks upon it, the less inclination I felt, never- 

 theless, to come forward publicly as the opponent of 

 this distinguished and highly-honoured man. 



