The New York herald., 1868-11-17
LECTURES LAST NIGHT.

able performance
LECTURES LAST NIGHT.
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The Goriila-Dr. Lemercier's Lectures on
Comparative Anatomy and Physiology.
The fourth Of the series Of lectures on compara-
tive anatomy and physiology by DR.. Lemercier of
Paris, was delivered last evening at the Cooper In
stitute before an audience threefourths Of which
was composed Of professional men.
The division Of the general subject selected the
theme Of his dsqusition was 'rhe Gorilla: Compare
son of its Organs with those of Man, and the lectu
rer illustrated his remarks with q number Of su-
perb plastic models and mannikins. After some
general observations on the anatomy Of the
human frame, the structure of the lungs, larynx,
trachea and other organs OF speech, he said
that he would endeavor to prove that the gorilla
resembled other animals in his organism, being
adapted to the particular functions allotted to him
by nature to meet the requirements OF his animal
nature and life, and nothing more The gorilla was
nrst discovered to Europeans tn 1912, and only two
specimens Of the animal had ever been dissected in
Europe while no living gorilla had as yet been seen
OUTSIDE Africa. noticeable feature Of It's structure
was that the lower extremites were very Short and
had an angular or zigzag outline. Its verteDral
column was also curved, the tendency Of
the beast being to look downwards, ana, in
fact 1t could not remain in perfectly
erect position for any length Of time. The
arms he observed, were Of unusual length and were
designed in conjunction with the curvature of the
body to enable the creature TO rest its hands upon
the ground to assist 1t In walking The gorilla usu-
ally In walking supported his body by resting on the
ground on the backs Of his hands, and In those spec
mems which had been dissected the backs Of the
hands were found to be caloused and hard from use
IN s IN s M 0S
teen pairs OF ribs, while In man there were seldom
more than thirteen pairs. In the gorilla the ribs
they were attached by q ligament There was, IN
fact no comparison at all between the human skele-
ton and the skeleton q tls brute ANA stu greater
and organization vf the two species upon dissection
than In the bone structure, and were peculiarly
adapted to the execution OF the movements OF the
animal All fhe great muscles OF the were con-
nected either Dy continuity OF their formation or by
powerful ligaments, with the muscles OF the chest
and back. The extensor muscles also In the arm OF
the gorilla were divided In four sections, while in
man there were bur three. The "bagplpe" was
arnpit and was a continuation diversion OF
the canal OF the larynx and It was the great expul
which enabled the voice OF the gorilla to be heard
for distance Of three miles, as described by M. Du
Chau, and as was TO some extent evidenced by this
development and it's structure. The thumb also pre-
sented a very marked dissmilarity, while the mus
cular development on the inside surface OF the legs
was such as to enable the creature to grasp trees
climbing The paramount distinction, however,
between the gorilla and the human race was
head and comparative weight and bulk Of
the brain. While the head of the gorilla very
large It's brain was & excessively small and ! was was but
year Old or pup gorilla. In the gorilla, chimpanzee
and orang outang It was likewise observable that
the inferior brain, cerebellum, was located
what in rear Of the larger brain, while In man the
smaller brain was directly underneath the superior
BRAIN The cranial capacity OF the gorilla also was
not 10 ba arady WI n ma haf nf hQ
former being thirty-four and half cubic inches
while the capacity In the human species was about
enabled man 70 keep on Improving his condition
until he had attained his present advanced
intellectual and moral state; but VINO could believe
that the gorilla had improved one iota since his
first creation2 Whatever Improvement they had
made-such as enabled them to ride horse or per-
form other natural feats-was owing TO mans power
and training over them and after the old gorilla
had been taught its osprng were never found " be
more intelligent than their ancestor.
AT the close OF the lecture DIR. Lambert rose and
moved that In view OF DR.. Lenercier being stran-
ger In this country, and OF the importance and
ability with which he deneated his subjects as a
matter Of Justice not only to the lecturer himself but
to the public at large q committee be appointed
to draft resolutions and place them M the
their appreciation OF his instructive and entertaining
lectures Drs. Prime and Richards, Mr.. Rice, SUPER
lntendent OF schools, and Mr. Chambers were APP
pointed 10 act In the matter, and on motion OF DR..
Richards, DR.. Lambert was added to the committee
After few complimentary remarks BY Dr. Prime,
addressed 10 Dr. LemerCler, an uIOst uuu
read what was intended to be 1atterng fulmlna-
tion and closed by wishing 'the Doctor had iull-
blooded negro there that he might be able 10 NUS
trate by his powerful analysis that the negro, spte
OF the color OF his skin, was not connecting INK
between the brute and human specles but was q
man himself The remark, which was about as IN
timed and inappropriate "a II could wei be, was re-
ccivea with applause aud hisses The meeting then
adjourned.
Du Chaillu ON tho GoriIIa-Lccture Before the
Association for the Instruction of the Deaf
and Dumb 11utes.
Mr.. p. B. Du Chaillu, the African explorer, dev-
cred lecture, by special request Of the society Of
this city for the deaf and dumb, last evening, as st.
AIMS (Dr. GalIaudets) church, West Eighteenth
street. There were about one hundred and thirty
members OF the institution present. among whom
were several females, and some hundred Others
brought together by the interest that has been ex-
cited by the Du Chaillu lectures. The mutes occu-
pied the front seats In the lecture room OF the
church. in the basement story. Along the wall facing
the audience the lecturer had placed In their order
drawings OF the skeleton OF man, OF gorilla, OF q
qibbon and OF chimpanzee, with other drawings
illustrative OF the principal ANIMAL the gorilla, In
the African wilds and sotudes. which we're matters
OF great interest and Of mute comment among the
greater bulk OF the audience.
The subject OF the lecture was one which has been
frequently treated Of by Mr.. Du Chau his explora-
tons and discoveries in Equatorial Africa.
The lecturer was introduced by Mr.. Roam in the
language OF signs, with which the members OF the
society have become so perfectly familiar that dur
Ing the delivery OF the lecture there was very little