276 OWEN'S POSITION IN 



outward form of which they described, should 

 also be treated of by the early and mediaeval 

 anatomists ; but, as the subject grew, division of 

 labour not only became practically necessary, but 

 was theoretically indicated by the diverse cha- 

 racters of its moieties. Form can be considered 

 without any reference to function ; and function 

 can be studied with very little reference to form. 

 One need know nothing of the structure of the 

 eye, for example, to make sure that it is the organ 

 of vision ; and a minimum of anatomical lore 

 suffices to establish the familiar truths that the 

 stomach is largely concerned in digestion, and 

 the lungs in respiration. Moreover, the preli- 

 minary training required for the effectual prose- 

 cution and advancement of the several studies of 

 form and of function is so different, that, in 

 modern times, the two have steadily tended to 

 fall into different hands. The doctrine of form, 

 whether in the shape of anatomy, histology, embry- 

 ology, taxonomy (that is, systematic arrangement), 

 or distribution, has become the business of the 

 4 morphologist,' to whom it is a matter of no 

 essential importance whether the subjects of his 

 inquiries are alive or have been dead for millions of 

 years. On the other hand, since functions are the 

 modes of manifestation of the activities of living 

 matter, in ultimate resort they must be studied 

 in living beings. The exact forms which the me- 

 chanisms of the functions may assume is a matter 



