Chap. XIII. RUDIMENTARY ORGANS. 453 



rule, that a rudimentary part or organ is of greater 

 size relatively to the adjoining parts in the embryo, 

 than in the adult ; so that the organ at this early age 

 is less rudimentary, or even cannot be said to be in any 

 degree rudimentary. Hence, also, a rudimentary organ 

 in the adult, is often said to have retained its embryonic 

 condition. 



I have now given the leading facts with respect to 

 rudimentary organs. In reflecting on them, every one 

 must be struck with astonishment : for the same reason- 

 ing power which tells us plainly that most parts and 

 organs are exquisitely adapted for certain purposes, 

 tells us with equal plainness that these rudimentary or 

 atrophied organs, are imperfect and useless. In works 

 on natural history rudimentary organs are gene- 

 rally said to have been created " for the sake of sym- 

 metry," or in order " to complete the scheme of nature ;" 

 but this seems to me no explanation, merely a re- 

 statement of the fact. Would it be thought sufficient 

 to say that because planets revolve in elliptic courses 

 round the sun, satellites follow the same course round the 

 planets, for the sake of symmetry, and to complete the 

 scheme of nature? An eminent physiologist accounts 

 for the presence of rudimentary organs, by supposing 

 that they serve to excrete matter in excess, or injurious 

 to the system ; but can we suppose that the minute pa- 

 pilla, which often represents the pistil in male flowers, 

 and which is formed merely of cellular tissue, can thus 

 act ? Can we suppose that the formation of rudimentary 

 teeth which are subsequently absorbed, can be of any 

 service to the rapidly growing embryonic calf by the 

 excretion of precious phosphate of lime ? When a man's 

 fingers have been amputated, imperfect nails sometimes 

 appear on the stumps : I could as soon believe that these 

 vestiges of nails have appeared, not from unknown laws 



