320 The Philippine Journal of Science ms 



and European embryos for a given age in the several cases for 

 which data are at hand. Much more information must be 

 accumulated before any definite statement along this line is justi- 

 fied. Albert and Arvisu(l) have taken a large series of measure- 

 ments on Filipino children from 6 to 36 months of age. A 

 comparison of the height of Filipino and a series of American 

 children measured and reported by Grover(4) is almost identical 

 up to the tenth month. In fact, a comparison of the two tables 

 shows that during the seventh or eighth month of life the Fili- 

 pino children have a greater length than American children. 

 The weight of Filipino children is invariably greater than in 

 American children of the corresponding age after the sixth 

 month. After the tenth month the difference in size between 

 American and Filipino children at once becomes apparent. 

 Whether this difference is due to an environmental cause or a 

 hereditary influence has not yet been determined. Undoubtedly 

 heredity plays a very important role, but other causes and in- 

 fluences should not be overlooked. Gibson and Concepcion,(3) 

 in a series of five puppies fed on cows' milk, found that growth 

 stopped in four of the animals when 44 days old. Following 

 the administration of an efficient vermifuge there resulted the 

 passage of many ascarids. Growth was immediately reestab- 

 lished. The growth charts of these dogs are published in con- 

 nection with another problem. This points out the importance 

 of considering influences that undoubtedly have a bearing on the 

 growth rate of an individual. That the Filipino is shorter in 

 stature is a well-known fact, but the explanation for this has 

 not yet been satisfactorily determined. 



It will be necessary to study a large series of specimens in 

 order more thoroughly to understand the causes that bring about 

 miscarriages, abortions, and premature births. Mall (5) was 

 the first to show this importance, and his contribution marks 

 the beginning of investigations in this new field. Experimental 

 teratology in the last two decades has done much toward explain- 

 ing the formation of many of the pathological specimens and 

 monstrosities. As the physicochemical laws of life are studied 

 more and more, the laws governing the formation and develop- 

 ment of monstrosities will be made more comprehensive. The 

 production of Cyclopes by the experimental work of Stockard(8) 

 and of Werber(9) is one of the first decisive steps along this 

 line. Our conception of the formation of certain types of mon- 

 sters, especially the cyclopes, has been made clearer by the 

 work of Stockard. He found that by treating fish embryos with 

 a mixture of sea water and magnesium chloride over 50 per cent 



