A Discussion on the Significance of Muscular Anomalies. 59 



this respect. Here is a condition that may be responsible for certain 

 variations. Muscle varieties are the most striking and numerous as 

 every one knows, but muscle is in a manner the oldest of tissues. 

 The animal tissue par Excellence, with it the nervous system is so 

 closely involved that nerve-muscle system is probably the correct term. 

 Anomalies are less common in fibrous tissue and bone. The latter 

 may be regarded as crystallizations the result of failing activity in 

 the tissues. A list of anomalies with the probable origin of each 

 would be veiy useful, those that have resulted from imitation con- 

 scious or unconscious would have to be distinguished from variations 

 produced by arrest of development or atavism. 



Professor Yule Mackey suggested a division into Normal and 

 Pathological varieties. 



The President of the Section, Sir John Struthers (who, we regret 

 to say, has since died) urged the importance of discussing Anatomical 

 varieties on their merits, without regard to extra Scientific Influence. 

 He spoke strongly of the value of Human Osteology as an educational 

 implement especially for Medical Students, and deprecated the over- 

 lading of the Medical Course with non professional subjects. De- 

 monstration and dissection were of more value than Lectures in the 

 teaching of Anatomy. 



Remarks on the above discussion by E. J. Anderson. The pro- 

 minent features in the papers read and commented upon are. — First. 

 The suggestion of a normal or fixed type towards which an animal is 

 heading. Cleland suggested the name "Terminal Form" to indicate 

 the crystallized Organic Type from which there is no recession nor 

 further progression. It is evident that any animal may rest at any 

 stage of its development, as a tadpole or other larva, and afterwards 

 emerge from its larval condition and proceed to strike another series 

 of balances, proceeding onward' and upward or downward. The deve- 

 lopment of the occipital lobe in connection with Microcephaly is one 

 of Cunningham's neatest bits of work. His observations lend some 

 countenance to the surmises of those who having discarded the Pineal 

 Body, the Heart, and the large Brain, as the seat of the soul (Highest 

 Mental Faculty) have adopted the Posterior Cerebral Lobe as its 



