While not organically diseased, the vital organs were functionally inert.
"Our Nervous Friends Illustrating the Mastery of Nervousness"
Robert S. Carroll
It will be seen that only the outer side of this appendage is stigmatic, and that it is thus naturally impossible for the blue-flag to self-fertilize-only one instance of thousands in which the anther and stigma, though placed in the closest proximity, and apparently even in contact-seemingly with the design of self-fertilization-are actually more perfectly separated functionally than if in separate flowers, the insect alone consummating their affinity.
"My Studio Neighbors"
William Hamilton Gibson
I have quoted enough to show that Dr. Erasmus Darwin would have protested against the supposition that functionally produced modifications were an adequate explanation of all the phenomena of organic modification.
"Luck or Cunning?"
Samuel Butler