MEDICAL ADVANCEMENT AS PRECLUDING HUMAN EVOLUTION 235 



monies" are produced which must be adjusted by means of science 

 and surgery. The appendix as well as the large intestines are dishar- 

 monies 1 and man were better off if rid of them. Until surgery obtained 

 control over a fatal inflammation of the appendix (a disease now known 

 as appendicitis) natural selection operated toward the elimination of 

 this appendix in the race. The size of this organ like every physical 

 character varies, and the smaller it is the less likely is the affection. 

 Those with a large appendix would be more likely to have the disease 

 and if surgical aid were not rendered, ultimately it would disappear 

 from the race by selection. But since surgery is so successful in opera- 

 tions of removal of this organ, the victims are saved for the race. All 

 survive, and selection ceases, i. e., the appendix will not tend to become 

 smaller in the race. It thus becomes obligatory to remove it — either at 

 birth or when it causes trouble. The same is true with the large intes- 

 tines. With the production of diets (breakfast foods) which contain 

 the proper proportions of nutrition to sustain the life with the least 

 waste, the large intestine becomes useless and even harmful. The 

 intestines were developed by natural selection, when man had less 

 palatable foods, and consequently in order to maintain good nutrition 

 required a large alimentary canal. Now the latter part of this canal 

 instead of being essential, and instead of being a digestive and assimila- 

 tive organ is a stagnant cesspool of putrefaction the best possible incu- 

 bator for all germs that chance to get through the pyloric orifice of the 

 stomach alive. By the aid of medical science we are becoming able, 

 to a considerable degree, to combat the diseases and fevers resulting 

 from this anomaly, and thus here too, natural selection is barred from 

 performing her work of shortening this intestine and thus fails ultimately 

 in bringing the body in consonance with its environing conditions. 

 Surgery may ultimately see fit to extirpate this organ at birth. 



By artificial means we are rendering the body immune to many 

 diseases, and thus finally, in order to save the race from becoming 

 exterminated this inoculation must be faithfully administered to every 

 individual who hopes to survive. If one generation should neglect this 

 essential duty of inoculation almost the whole race might be swept 

 away as chaff before the wind. 



1 Metchnikoff, Nature oj Man. 



