REMARKS ON THE FIGURES OF PLATE XLVII. 
THE THORACIC ARCHETYPE IS THE SYMBOL OF UNIFORMITY, AND CONTRASTED WITH THIS EVERY MINUS 
SERIAL QUANTITY BECOMES THE SYMBOL OF VARIETY OR SPECIES. 
pn ereore explain the law of their difference. Comparison is a mode of contrasting various 
quantities, and when those quantities manifest no other variety among themselves save that which 
occurs by the subtraction of a thing from one figure, which thing is present and _ persistent for another 
figure, then the object of comparison or contrast must be to re-establish the ideas of uniformity by a 
mode of equation; to the end that the figure which is now minus by design may explain the law of 
formation which has created it in its present condition. ‘Tis true that there are some things so 
absolutely various to one another that contrast or comparison can never rationally expect, by any mode 
of computation whatever, to restore the idea of plus uniformity between them; as, for example, when we 
contrast a meteoric stone with the carapace of a tortoise, we cannot expect so to retrace the paces of the 
law of their difference as to read the one to be a proportional of the other. But while we are forced to 
acknowledge thus much as to the absolute difference which prevails between certain entities which have 
been struck specifically various to each other ad origine, and ordained to maintain this special character 
in opposition or contrast to one another ad jfinem, still it must be admitted, that the serial quantities found 
developed, whether in one skeleton axis, or as they stand created in one or more or all skeleton axes, do 
not repel the reason from entertaining an opinion that, by the contrast or comparison of these plus and 
‘minus varieties, it is quite possible to generate the idea of a whole standard quantity wherewith all 
minus or special variation may be contrasted and the law of formation explained accordingly. 
The contrast of figures which differ only as to quantity will, like the contrast of a+ and a—é, 
express the fact that the lesser has been fashioned from such as the greater. 
The foregoing remarks apply to all varieties of human | dentallaw. But if one or either of these figures developes 
‘skeleton formation. The Caucasian, Mongolian, American, | the cervical or lumbar rib, then they are rendered propor- 
and Hthiopian varieties manifest the plus and minus 
development as to thoracic quantity. The rib may be 
produced upon the sixth and seventh cervical unit, as well 
as upon the twentieth and twenty-first im the lumbar 
region; and in whatever other respect these skeleton 
forms may be said to manifest distinctive characters, it is 
at once rendered evident that no mode of measurement, 
by the facial angle or minute examination of special 
character, can help us to an interpretation of the law 
which planned them, as they are, the proportionals of 
‘archetype unity. 
While we compare fig. A, the skeleton of a Chinese, with 
fig. B, the skeleton of a Carib, we see every reason to 
name them. homologues, fashioned upon the transcen- 
tionally various to each other; and hereupon we ask the 
question, how happens such variety? The answer to this 
question is part of the answer which must tell whence all 
other skeleton quantities are developed as proportional 
varieties, somewhat uniform, but proportionally various, 
nevertheless. 
The knowledge of a law of formation should be extended 
as widely as the law itself appears to act, otherwise we 
cannot encompass all the possibility of creation which may 
happen in the process of this law, nor, while we fall short 
of this sum of knowledge, can we hope to erase the word 
“anomaly” fromthe chart and firmament of science. Where 
knowledge is minus, the “ anomalies of formation” are in 
plus amount, and where knowledge is plus, the anomalies 
