Page:The Negro a menace to American civilization.djvu/44

Rh differences, but, so far as I am aware, the matter has never received the careful and systematic investigation it deserves.

"I have thought it opportune to bring it to the notice of the Society at this time, in the hope of stimulating interest in it and leading to its further development. The isolated fact of today may become the generalization of tomorrow and if each shall contribute his mite we shall soon have a body of facts sufficient to warrant us in deducing the laws of agreement and difference, if such there be.

"During a somewhat extended service as demonstrator of anatomy in one of our local medical schools, using negro subjects entirely, one myological peculiarity of the race was forcibly impressed upon my attention. I refer to the almost invariable presence of the psoas parvus muscle, on both sides and well developed. I regret that I kept no exact record but I feel warranted in saying that the presence of this muscle is the rule and its absence a noteworthy exception. It was equally present in the two sexes.

"This muscle occurs constantly in the lower animals and serves an important purpose, but as we ascend in the scale it grows smaller and more rudimentary until in man it is generally stated to be absent or a mere fasciculus.

"Meckel is the only authority who regards this as a constantly present muscle. He states that it is sometimes absent but that this is rare. Every other anatomist is against him. Theile's language is especially emphatic. He says: 'I consider the absence of the small psoas as the normal condition in man. In over