The Structure of Man: An Index to His Past History
R. Wiedersheim
Hardcover
(Forgotten Books, Nov. 25, 2017)
Excerpt from The Structure of Man: An Index to His Past HistoryThe circumstances which led to the production 'of this work in the original German are sufficiently set forth in the annexed Introduction, and no one would admit more readily than its author that it is largely supplementary to the classical treatises of Darwin and Huxley, quoted in its pages. Experience of the practical method of scientific education has shown that it is desirable to place in the hands of the student engaged upon a first investigation of individual types of animal structure, some sound treatise of a general character, which he may read while continuing his more systematic studies. Such works awaken the mind to the comparative method of inquiry, and to the higher educational and philosophic issues to which it leads. It was this consideration which prompted me to suggest this translation, in the hope that it might be of use, in the manner indicated, to the medical student while engaged in the study of anatomy. I am further hopeful that an educated public exists to whom a knowledge of the comparative morphology of Man and the Anthropoid Apes as set forth in these pages may be acceptable. The truth of Evolution in organic nature is now generally admitted, but its application to man is not perhaps so widely acknowledged. This book, in no sense an exhaustive treatise, is an endeavour to set forth the more salient features in the anatomy of Man which link him with lower forms, and others in that of the lower forms which shed a special light on parts of the human organism. Such comparisons furnish a basis upon which to exercise judgment concerning Man's position in the series of organised beings. In dealing with these comparisons, a word of caution is, how.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.