April i„ 1872] 



NATURE 



439 



structures through the whole range of animal life. But 

 physiology did not do so ; it got into another line, investi- 

 gating with tlie utmost care, and also with splendid success, 

 the nervous functions of the higher vertebrates, develop- 

 ing theories on the physical agency of these functions, 

 and trying to verify these theories by experiments. It went 

 also into chemical researches, trying to get clear insight 

 into the chemical processes of digestion and the nourish- 

 ment of the body of the higher vertebrates. In consequence 

 of this one- or rather two-sidedness, it has happened that 

 physiology appears to be very indifferent to the great 

 overthrow of our views regarding the organic world, 

 caused by the doctrine of evolution. Indeed, celebrated 

 physiologists even go so far as to deny the truth of that 

 doctrine altogether. Now nothing can be a stronger proof 

 that there is something amiss in the state of physiology, 

 and this something consists in the complete want of Com- 

 parative Physiology. If we cannot understand the ana- 

 tomical constitution of men and the higher animals with- 

 out the study of comparative anatomy and embryology, 

 we can equally as little understand their physiological 

 components if we do not follow them up through the 

 whole series of animal life. It is utterly deplorable that 

 so very little has been done in this immense department 

 of Science. What do we know of the functions of such 

 all-important organs as the so-called segmental organs of 

 Annelids, which in the further development of other 

 classes of the animal kingdom grew into some possess- 

 ing the highest functions ? Nobody doubts that Amphioxus 

 is a Vertebrate ; but has any one yet tried to make physio- 

 logical experiments with that animal, though it is one of 

 the most hard-living of all marine animals ? And is 

 there in any way a base laid for the physiology of fishes, 

 which must yield results of the utmost importance ? Does 

 the academical physiology of modern times do the least 

 to unveil the mysteries of generation, of growth, of 

 degeneration ? Are these departments, perhaps, less 

 interesting, less important, less accessible than Nervous 

 Physiology or the Physiology of Digestion .' There is ap- 

 parently a lack of idea in this great department of Biology, 

 an overgrowing influence of Physicists, and a want of 

 morphological knowledge among Physiologists. What 

 would have been the fate of Physiology if, unfortunately, 

 Johannes Miiller had not died in the same year when the 

 " Origin of Species " came out ? He was the man to 

 create at once the study of Comparative Physiology, and 

 his spirit must again come over physiologists to enable 

 them to perceive the immense field of action before them, 

 and the neglect with which they treat it. 



Now, I can only say that it is one of the great objects 

 of the Naples station to do all in its power to carry 

 on a fair commencement of Comparative Physiology. 

 Whatever money may be spared, whatever pains bestowed, 

 it will willingly be given to so important a duty, and it 

 would be considered a great good fortune should a 

 thoroughly instructed physiologist make up his mind to 

 accept a post in the station in order to establish and carry 

 on a Physiological Laboratory. 



To all the possible advantages of the station for the 

 intermittent action of single naturalists alluded to above, 

 unite now the great advantage from the fact that such 

 isolated action will be quite superseded. A station like 

 that of Naples wants at least three well-trained zoologists 



to conduct it properly. One of the greatest privileges for 

 these zoologists will certainly be that teaching forms no 

 essential part of their duties. Whoever knows by expe- 

 rience what a loss of energy and of time is caused to all 

 those original workers who are bound to teach daily on 

 elementary topics, what great relief vacations form in the 

 life of university professors and privat-docents (who gene- 

 rally proceed with original work daily during their vaca- 

 tions), will be aware of the exceeding value of paid places 

 where teaching is no necessity, and is only admitted for 

 single and special puposes. The comfortable system of 

 English fellowships, granting money to young gentlemen 

 who are supposed to merit special rewards by having un- 

 dergone some examinations, will, in fact, be united to the 

 principle of Continental academies, of paying men of 

 scientific reputation, that they may go on at their leisure 

 with original scientific work. The zoologists in the 

 stations will be selected from the number of young pro- 

 fessors or privat-docents, who, as a matter of course, are 

 supposed to be ambitious to do some good things in 

 science, even at the risk of sacrificing comfort and agree- 

 able social life. They will be sufficiently paid, and their 

 payment even raised so as to equal that of a moderately- 

 paid German university professor ; though perhaps not 

 approaching the level of the payment of a young 

 Oxford or Cambridge Fellow. Nevertheless, they will be 

 put in a position to balance that inferiority by making 

 themselves known as workers, and adding to the store- 

 house of science facts and observations which may secure 

 to them, if not a comfortable position in life, yet at least 

 applause and respect from the eminent men of their 

 science. 



And these zoologists, having at their disposal a labora- 

 tory of the perfection and extent of the future Naples one, 

 being aided by the possession of an all but complete 

 biological library, and having before their doors the 

 immense storehouse of the Mediterranean Sea, cannot 

 fail to effect a great step in organising the progress of 

 biological work. Let us suppose the question arose 

 whether Cephalopods preceded in geological time other 

 Molluscs, or were a higher developed offspring of them. 

 The problem would be completely insoluble to University 

 zoologists. But the three zoologists of the station at 

 Naples would at once proceed with a solution in working 

 out the embryology of the seven or eight species 

 occurring in the Gulf, communicating and controlling 

 each other's observations and conclusions. Some foreign 

 zoologists might join their labours for half a year, and 

 Science would be at once in possession of some thoroughly 

 worked out contributions to the Comparative Embryology 

 of the Cephalopods. Apply the same system of co-opera- 

 tion to other problems, for instance to one the solution 

 of which is so much longed for, as the Embryology of 

 Sharks. Years will not enable a single worker to go 

 through that enormous task, with the sole aid of his 

 individual opportunities. But suppose the leading 

 zoologist of the station got the plan into his head to 

 carry out the solution of this problem. He invites some 

 excellent zoologist who completely understands the 

 problem to come to Naples, to bring with him two or three 

 assistants who have already beforehand been made ac- 

 quainted with the object of the inquiry and the chief 

 difficulties of the observation, and to set to work from 



