Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-11-21
The Brain and Intelligence,

Atthe recent Anthropological Congress
IN Parls, says the London Times, DR..
Lebon gave the results of his expert
mental researches in the variations of
volume OF the Uranium in relation to in
teIigence. According to observations
made on numerous series of crania it is
proved that intelligence is in proportion
to the vOlums of the Uranium, the best
endowed races, and among races the
most intelligent individuals having the
most cranium. By comparing these
series of crania it is also found that the
superior race present a much greater
number voluminous crania than the
others. The same phenomena are pre-
sented in proportion to the degree of
civilization the Partisan crania of the
twelfth century present, for example,
less volume than the crania of modern
Parisians; at the same time, the differ
ence among individuals becomes more
considerable. DIR. Lebon does not believe
that height exercises any considerable
influence on the volume of the Uranium
and the weight of the brain. Neverthe-
less, with equal height, the woman has
a brain less heavy than the man. The
author, from the study of seventeen
uAcAC cAlAu 6CNCulCCA l6ulll6 DIdlub lOuUQ
between them a difference Of I72
grammes to the advantage of the former.
1t is worthy of remark that among the
superior races the Uranium of the woman
is generally much less than among the
inferior races. This is due, Dr. LebOn
says, to the insignificant part taken by
women in the work of modern society.
The comparative study of the curves Of
the circumference of the Uranium, of
that of the head, of the volume and
weight Of the brain, shows the relations
existing between these various values
and renders possible the construction of
tables which one of them being known.
permit the immediate determination of
the others Of the series. It is seen, for
example, that head, the circumference
of which is ffty-seven centimetres, cor
responds to a Uranium the circumference
of which is ffty-twO centimetres, and
the volume l $50 cubic centimetres. The
probable weight of the brain contained
in the Uranium would be $50 grammes.
There is constant inequality of develop
ment between the two halves of the
brain, which is sometimes more deyel-
oped on the right, sometimes on the left,
without race or state of intelligence
appearing 10 nave any manifest influence
on the direction of this inequality of
development. The circumference of the
Uranium on which depends the volume
of the brain, has a close connection with
the degree of intelligence. With the
measurements of the circumference of
the head, taken from more than I.2OO
living subjects, DR.. Lebon has constructed
a series of curves which show that from
the point of view Of their development,
the heads Of modern Parisians, and of
the inhabitants of the country, are
classed in the following order: /, Ser
wants and learned men; 2, the Paris
bourgeoise; 8, the old nobility; 4, Pa
risian domestic servants; 5, peasants.
DR.. Broca, in remarking on DR.. Lebon's
paper, said that if among the less civil
lied races the difference between the
volume of the crania of men and women
is relatively small, while it is great
among civilized races, this does not
prove the intellectual inferiority of
women, but is explained by the necessity
for savage women taking part in the
struggles for existence under the same
condition as the men.