Our Disappearing Anatomy.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 446, 3 November 1904, Page 5

Our Disappearing Anatomy.

THE LITTLE TOE TOOMED. Will man in the coming centuries of physical progress lose his little toe ? Is this portion of the human anatomy destined to become as useless as the vermiform appendix and finally, like thousands of erstwhile parts of the body, disappear completely ? Sir John Murray, K.C.8., naturalist and authority on marine biology, president of the Royal Society of London, seems to think so. In a discussion on the subject at New York on September 14th, he admitted that the little toe may be the next part of the body to disappear. In agreement of the theory of Sir John Murray, Dr Shrady, of New York, spoke fs follows: " This theory of the disappearance of the little toe in ten thousand years is very interesting, and is based legitimately on Darwin's teachings. It is the application of very broad principles to a very tiny subject. Disuse of certain parts of the body and their elimination go hand in hand with evolution.

Civilisation degenerates men in some ways. Prepared food weakens the stomach, and it is prophesied that in time men can live without a stomach by eating prepared foods. Savages who wear no shoes or onlylight moccasins have their toes spread out like the sticks of a fan. The activity of the little toe of certain Filipinos is remarkable." As an example, illustrating the facts that walking makes the feet grow larger, Dr Shrady pointed out the policeman. While the example may not have, been well taken, it affords a comfortable theory for the feet that No. 9's could never grace. " This age of electric cars, railroads, etc., makes a man walk less, and, corns bined with tight shoes, tends to make the feet smaller. The foot with four toes might not be as graceful, but it would at least be smaller."

As Dr Shrady agrees with Sir John Murray that ten thousand years may elapse during the passing of the little toe, alarmists can only use' the theory in behalf of prosperity.