Sexual Physiology

Abstract

A FOOTNOTE to Chapter vi., “Fertilisation,” states that this has been “Revised, with numerous additions, by Cresswell Shearer.” It was assumed, from this, that Dr. Shearer had taken the chapter as it stood in the first edition and had made himself responsible not only for the numerous additions but also for the whole of the subject-matter of this chapter in the present edition, and for its presentation. That we are not alone in reading this meaning into the footnote is shown by the fact that another reviewer, writing elsewhere, states that “Dr. Cresswell Shearer has written in this edition a most excellent chapter on fertilisation.” If Dr. Shearer did revise the chapter, then his objections are but formal; but it would appear that he did not revise, as we understand the term, but merely read the manuscript, placing also at the service of the author certain discrete sections for possible inclusion. The footnote is misleading.