580 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. IX. No. 225. 



encephalon,' tegmentum, vermis, nodidus, floccu- 

 lus, pons, lemniscus, obex, oliva, clava and 

 vagiis F' 



XXVIII. That the originality of the B. N. 

 A. (the Nomenclature adopted at Basel in 1895 

 by the Anatomische Gesellschaft) is to be meas- 

 ured by the manifestation therein of non-ac- 

 quaintance ivith what had been proposed or ac- 

 complished by English-speaking anatomists. — To 

 be more explicit, I repeat here a paragraph 

 from ' Neural Terms ' (§ 276) referring to 

 the action of American Committees between 

 1889 and 1892 : 



"Although the specific terms included in these 

 recommendations are few, they exemplify all the 

 commendable features of the German report. Indeed, 

 I fail to discover in the latter any general statement, 

 principle, rule or suggestion that had not already been 

 set forth with at least equal accuracy, clearness and 

 force in the writings of British and American anato- 

 mists prior to 1895." 



XXIX. That indifference or even hostility to 

 terminologic improvement, especially upon the 

 part of the older generation, should be thought 

 either surprising or discouraging. — The first 

 point was conceded by me in 1881 : 



"The trained anatomist shrinks from an unfamiliar 

 word as from an unworn boot ; the trials of his own 

 pupilage are but vaguely remembered ; each day 

 there seems more to be done, and less time in which 

 to do it ; nor is it to be expected that he will be at- 

 tracted spontaneously toward the consideration that 

 his own personal convenience aud preferences, and 

 even those of all his distinguished contemporaries, 

 should be held of little moment as compared with the 

 advantages which reform may insure to the vastly 

 more numerous anatomical workers of the future." 



The second point is covered by the review- 

 in the Philadelphia Polyclinic, which I have 

 included in Category B (xxi.) : 



" While some of our friends across the Atlantic may 

 possibly consider this too radical a departure from 

 long-established customs, the author of the book be- 

 lieves that time and familiarity with the terms will 

 justify the course he has followed." 



XXX. That action upon the general subject 

 shoidd he indefinitely postponed. — This is the 

 hour and you are the men. Let not the 



' fools rush in, because the ' angels ' of this 

 Association ' fear to tread.' 



XXXI. That it is incumbent upon this As- 

 sociation to decide immediately upon the names 

 for all parts of the body or even for all parts of 

 the central nervous system. — In a matter of 

 such moment precipitation is to be avoided. 



XXXII. That there are contemplated by the 

 majority of the Committee, or by any member 

 thereof, tvith regard to the names of the other 

 parts of the body, changes comparable in num- 

 ber and extent tvith what have been proposed for 

 the central nervous system.* 



XXXIII. Thai member's of the Association 

 shoidd content themselves with simply awaiting 

 the operation of the laiu of the survival of the 

 fittest. — Upon this point I quote again the 

 brothers Herrick. The conclusion of their 

 article, 'Inquiries,' etc., reads: 



' 'The unification of our nomenclature is to be ac- 

 complished, if at all, by a process of survival of the 

 fittest among competing terms at the hands of our 

 working anatomists rather than by legislative enact- 

 ment. Yet the international discussions now in prog- 

 ress may do much to further this end." 



I trust they will pardon me for attaching 

 the greater significance to the final conces- 

 sion. The subject before us is preeminently 

 one that concerns mind rather than mat- 

 ter; and its determination should be reached 

 not so much through the operation of 

 numbers or force as by the exercise of the 

 highest human qualities, deliberation, self- 

 restraint, and consideration for others. 



XXXIV. That members of this Association 

 should defer to what is called 'general usage.' — 

 Of all so-called leaders, the most incapable, 

 bliindering, and dangerous is ' General 

 Usage'. He stands for thoughtless imita- 

 tion, the residuum of the ape in humanity; 

 for senseless and indecorous fashions, the 

 caprices of the demi-monde; for superstition 

 and hysteria, the attributes of the mob; for 



*See, for example, the report submitted and 

 adopted at this session ; Science, March 3, 1899, p. 

 321 ; also, Phil. Med. Journal, Feb. 25th, and Jour. 

 Comp. Neurology, is., No. 1. 



