Острів доктора Моро
Doctor Moreau Explains.
Lessso,andprobablyfarmoreextensive,weretheoperationsofthosemediaevalpractitionerswhomadedwarfsandbeggar-cripples,show-monsters,—somevestigesofwhoseartstillremaininthepreliminarymanipulationoftheyoungmountebankorcontortionist.VictorHugogivesanaccountofthemin‘L’HommequiRit.’—Butperhapsmymeaninggrowsplainnow.Youbegintoseethatitisapossiblethingtotransplanttissuefromonepartofananimaltoanother,orfromoneanimaltoanother;toalteritschemicalreactionsandmethodsofgrowth;tomodifythearticulationsofitslimbs;and,indeed,tochangeitinitsmostintimatestructure.
"Andyetthisextraordinarybranchofknowledgehasneverbeensoughtasanend,andsystematically,bymoderninvestigatorsuntilItookitup!Someofsuchthingshavebeenhituponinthelastresortofsurgery;mostofthekindredevidencethatwillrecurtoyourmindhasbeendemonstratedasitwerebyaccident,—bytyrants,bycriminals,bythebreedersofhorsesanddogs,byallkindsofuntrainedclumsy-handedmenworkingfortheirownimmediateends.Iwasthefirstmantotakeupthisquestionarmedwithantisepticsurgery,andwithareallyscientificknowledgeofthelawsofgrowth.Yetonewouldimagineitmusthavebeenpractisedinsecretbefore.SuchcreaturesastheSiameseTwins—AndinthevaultsoftheInquisition.Nodoubttheirchiefaimwasartistictorture,butsomeatleastoftheinquisitorsmusthavehadatouchofscientificcuriosity.
