The Descent of Man

Professor Turner, in 'Edinburgh Medical Journal,'
February, 1865.) No such stage is passed
through during the ordinary development of
the embryo; and it is difficult to believe, though
perhaps not impossible, that the two simple,
minute, primitive tubes should know how (if
such an expression may be used) to grow into
two distinct uteri, each with a well-constructed
orifice and passage, and each furnished with
numerous muscles, nerves, glands and vessels,
if they had not formerly passed through a similar
course of development, as in the case of existing
marsupials. No one will pretend that so
perfect a structure as the abnormal double
uterus in woman could be the result of mere
chance. But the principle of reversion, by which
a long-lost structure is called back into existence,
might serve as the guide for its full development,
even after the lapse of an enormous
interval of time.