90 



THE STRUCTURE OF MAN 



It should, in passing, be noted that the mutual relationships between the 

 muscles and bones are not absolutely similar in every single case, although a 

 general agreement exists. The undeniably close connection between the 

 modifications of two must not be regarded as that of cause and effect, but 

 rather as the joint effect of a common cause. 



Clear signs of degeneration are also to be found in the other 

 toes, and especially their middle phalanges, while the terminal and 



FIG. 64. POSTERIOR END OF THE BODY OP TWO HUMAN EMBRYOS, WITH THE 



LEFT HIND-LIMB AND UMBILICAL CORD. 



A, at the end of the seventh week ; B, in the middle of the eighth week. The position 

 of the great toe (I) is noteworthy, c.u., umbilical cord ; cc., coccygeal eminence. 



basal phalanges may be also affected. The second toe is mostly free 

 from signs of degeneration: its middle phalanx shows a disposition 

 to shorten, but it at the same time tends to become stronger 

 rather than weaker. It might, therefore, be predicted of the 

 human foot that it may end by possessing only two two-jointed 

 toes, the great toe and its neighbour ; l but the possibility of 



1 [It may be questioned whether it would not be more correct to predict, provided 

 there is anything in this argument at all, that all the toes with the exception of the 

 second may ultimately become two-jointed.] 



