APPENDIX 381 



offspring. Thus, the effects of wear on the crowns of 

 teeth must be transmitted to offspring. We have no 

 proof that this is the case. It is well known that 

 mutilations of the body of the parent seldom exhibit 

 themselves in the offspring. In a few cases of seri- 

 ous injui-ies, the offspring have been affected. On 

 the other hand, it is known from accidents, experi- 

 ments on animals, compressed feet of the Chinese 

 during hundreds of years, flattened heads, and cir- 

 cumcision, which has been practiced thousands of 

 years, that mutilations of parents are not inherited by 

 the offspring. Until this is shown to be true, the 

 theory that mechanical forces have been the principal 

 agencies in producing permanent variations among 

 animals cannot be accepted. 



In conclusion, I will say, that this volume by Cope 

 will probably be regarded by evolutionists as greatly 

 strengthening their theory. With most of them, 

 however, the doctrine of evolution has ceased to be a 

 theory, and they simply regard it as a fact to which 

 all biological facts are to be legitimately referred, and 

 by which they are to be explained. 



