O METAMOEPHOSES OF MAN 



We have shown elsewhere, why we must translate 

 the celebrated aphorism, " Omne vivum ex ovo/' * 

 — Every living being, [and consequently every animal,] 

 starts from a germ. With the organization of this 

 germ begins a series of transformations, general or 

 partial, rapid or tedious, which only terminate with 

 life itself. Thus Harvey's expression leads us, as a 

 matter of course, to this one, — every living being 

 undergoes metamorphoses. For the most part, these 

 latter are due to the same cause working through the 

 same processes. To regard these as distinct orders of 

 facts, because they are not readily identified, would 

 be neither scientific nor correct. 



It is this opinion which modern naturalists, and 

 especially Duges, Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 

 Cams, and Burdach, have formed and expressed more 

 or less distinctly ; but M. Duvernoy was the first who 

 thoroughly appreciated the idea, and systematized it 

 in his lectures and writings. f In 1841 this naturalist 



* " Eevue des deux Mondes," March 15, 1850, and " Souvenirs 

 d'un Naturalist," 1854. [The latter work has been translated into 

 English.— Ed.] 



f M. Duvernoy, a fellow-countryman and colleague of Cuvier, 

 had even while very young attached his name jointly with 

 M. Dumeril to one of the great scientific undertakings of the 

 age, — " L'Anatomie comparee." He was then nominated pro- 

 fessor in Sorbonne, but soon gave in his resignation. After a 

 very long interruption, caused by family affairs, he re-entered the 

 field of science and began teaching, as professor of zoology in the 

 faculty of Strasburg. Afterwards called successively to the College 

 de France and the Museum, he filled the two principal chairs of 

 his illustrious master. He maintained the position which he held 

 most worthily. Few men have given such numerous proofs of a 

 sincere and energetic devotion to science. One may say of 

 M. Duvernoy that he died on the field of glory ; for almost on the 

 day of his death, and in spite of the advice of his physicians, he 



