The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-05-31
H LAST OF RULOFF.
The Size and N~atureiof the Bram-His
Grave opened Three Times.

Rulof's brain, which was carefully
examined this morning, weighed fifty
nine ounces, being nine and ohe-half
or ten ounces heavier than the aver
age weight. The heaviest brain ever
weighed was that of Cuvier, the
French naturalist, which is given by
some authorities at sixty five ounces,
and by some at sixty four ounces. -
The brain of Daniel Webster (partly
estimated on account of a portion be-
ing destroyed by disease) weighed six
ty-four ounces. The brain of DR..
Abercombie, of Scotland, weighed
sixty-three ounces. The lower por-
ton of Rulof's brain and the me
chanical powers were unusually large.
The upper portion of the brain, which
directs the higher moral and religious
sentiments, was very deficient. In the
formation Of the brain, Ruloff was a
ferocious animal, and, S % far as dis
position could relieve him from re
sponsibility, he was not strictly ac-
countable for his acts. The measure
ment of Ruloff's head around at the
eyebrows was twenty-four aud one halt
inches. His skull was probably the
thickest ever known. In no place was
it less than three-eighths of an inch
thick. The usual thickness Of a mans
skull is less than n fourth of an
inch. Ruloff's head was opened il
the usual way, by parting the scalp
over the top of the head, from one
ear to the other, and saving off the
top. Surgeons. who performed the
operation say it required three-quar-
tiers of an hour to saw around the
skull, and before it was completed
they began to think the head was all
skull. With the protection of a skull
half an inch thick, and a scalp of the
thickness and toughness of a rhinoce-
ros rind, the man of eve murders
was provided with n natural helmet
that would have defied the force of
any pistol bullet. If he had been in
Mirick's place, the bullet would have
made only a slight wound and had he
been provided with a Cuts vera equal
to his scalp, his defensive armor
against bullets would have been as
complete as a coat of mail.
The cords in Rulof's neck were as
heavy and strong as those of an OK,
and from his formation, one would al
most suppose that he vas protected
against death on the gallows as we'll
as from injury to his head. His body
was larger than it was supposed to be
by casual observers. The sheriff as
certained when he took the measure
of the prisoner for a coffin. to bury
him in, that he was five feet and ten
inches in, height, and measured nine
teen inches across the shoulders, and
when in good condition would weigh
about Que hundred. and s~eventy-fGe
pounds. 1t is well known that his
grave was opened three different times
last Friday might, by different parties
who wanted to obtain his head. One
of these parties was from Albany, and
twice the body was disinterred by par
tres living in Binghampton. One
company would no sooner cover up
the body, which all found headfcss,
and leave it, than another company
would come and go through the same
operation. 1t is now known that the
head was never buried with; the body,
but was legally obtained before the
burial, by the surgeons who have pos
session of it. The hair and beard
we're shaved of close, and al excellent
impression in plaster was taken of the
whole head. The brain is now under
going a hardening process, and when
that is completed, an impression will
be taken of it entire, and then it will
be parted, the different parts weighed,
and impressions made of the several
Observation-Disclosures Republican.