1 12 
Correspondence . 
[February, 
“FARINI’S MISSING LINK.” 
To Editor of the Journal of Science. 
Sir, — Having paid a visit to this marvel I must confess that I 
see little evidence for its being a form connecting man with any 
of the anthropoid apes. The large size of the head tells deci- 
dedly against such a hypothesis. The toes seem, indeed, more 
easily and widely separable from each other than in modern 
Europeans ; but this is a common characteristic in the Far East, 
where, e.g., carpenters will often hold a board steady with their 
toes, whilst their hands are occupied with some tool. I do not 
see that, in the specimen now under exhibition at the Westmin- 
ster Aquarium, the great toe is more fully opposable to the other 
toes than in human subjects. The growth of the hair will also 
seem of little importance if we reflect that among certain tribes 
— e.g., in Australia — the backs of young children are densely 
covered with hair half an inch in length. — I am, &c., 
A Graduate. 
THE “ ADVANCEMENT OF MEDICINE BY 
RESEARCH.” 
To the Editor of the Journal of Science . 
Sir, — When the Society for the Advancement of Medicine by 
Research was constituted Sir William Jenner is reported to have 
said that “ there was no desire on the part of those who had 
worked in the formation of that Association to evade the law ; 
there was no desire on their part to ask for a repeal of the law, 
or even for any modification of it.” 
Commenting on this statement, you very justly declared that 
if those words really limit the objects in view, “ we scarcely see 
that the Association has any well-marked raison d'etre .” But 
now I read in the medical papers of “ material assistance on 
behalf of harassed experimentalists whose efforts in the cause of 
discovery are at present hampered by the miserable restrictions 
imposed by the Vivisection ACt.” This sounds healthy, but it is 
sadly out of keeping with Sir William Jenner’s opening address. 
— I am, &c., 
Graduate. 
