The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-05-20
Skulls, Brains and Souls.

The weight of the brain has often
been held to be the criterion of the
mind, though, apart from the want of
confirmation obtained by investigation,
there are serious theoretical difficulties.
The brain, whatever other functions it
may have, is undoubtedly a source of
power supplied to the muscles, and we
are ignorant to what extent the activity
of the muscular system or the size of
the body may influence that of the brain.
We know that muscle grows by judi
ciOus exercise; why, then, should not
the brain, supplying it with the nerve
force necessary for its increased duties,
enlarge pdTi DHSSu2 1t may be doubtful
whether we can prove that this is so. 1t
is, think, certain that we cannot prove
that it is not so. DIR. lie Bon, in a work
to which l shall refer again, has de-
cided that the height of person has an
effect, though a very slight one, on the
size of the brain. He found that the
influence of the weight of the body is
greater, but by no means sufficient to
account for the variations of the brain.
Another disturbing element is age. 1t
has been estimated that after a rather
uncertain date, say fOrty-tive years, the
brain gradually dwindles. Again, may
not some wasting disease preceding
death cause a shrinking of the organ;
and may not other pathological changes
increase its density? All these sources
of error must make us Skeptical as to in
dividual results, though, at the same
time, we cannot free ourselves from
some share in the general belief that
the weight of the brain is an index of
the mind.
The weight of the brains of numbers
of known men, distinguished and other
wise, has been cited for and against this
theory. Cuvier is usually found head
ING the list, with brain weight of Ga. SO
ounces. CHE average for the male is
between forty and fifty.) One is struck
with the apparent propriety that this
vast intellect should have worked
through a heavy brain. Within the
last ten years, however, a laborer
has died in England whose brain
weighed sixty-seven ounces. Of his
history and habits little is known.
Though intelligent for his rank in life,
he apparently gave no signs of fitness,
for higher one. His most intellectual
trait, if | remember rightly, was his
fondness for reading newspapers, prob
ably the only literature he could easily
obtain. "Chill penury'' may have
depressed his noble rage" if he had
any. He may have been a "mute in
glorious Milton But who knows
whether the sublime imaginations of the
poet betOken remarkable cerebral de-
velopmentP The late James Fisk, Jr.,
had brain weighing fifty-eight ounces,
surprising Daniel Webster, Chauncey
Wright, Dupaytren, and a mathemati-
clan of the first rank. Indeed, all these
except Fisk, come after a man who
from his second year was reckoned
an idiot. A celebrated philolo-
gist is below the average, and a
distinguished mineralOgist much be-
low It. In spite of many eXcep-
tions, however, we find distinguished
men most numerous near the top of the
list, and laborers, criminals and idiots
at the other end of it. Before leav
inc the literature of the subject, |
must mention a paper by Dr. j.. ).
Wight, of Brooklyn. The basis is a Sc
ries of measurements, which show clear
" enough the outline and capacity of
the head, taken on forty-two men and
as many women, one-half of each set
being educated and the other half ignO-
rant. The numbers, no doubt, are far
too small to give a satisfactory mean,
and other obiectiOns-as, for instance,
the mingling of those of different races
in the same categOry-might be raised;
but the work is ingenious and not fruit
less. The author shows that the fore
part of the head is more developed in
educated men than in educated women,
and also in ignorant men than in ignO-
rant women. He finds, moreover, that
the brain of the uneducated male some
what resembles in size and form that of
the educated female.
Anatomists give very discordant d.
rections for determining the sex of
skulls. In a great many cases it cannot
be determined. The female skull, as
rule, is smaller than the male, and,
moreover. the Jaws and prominences for
muscles are less developed; consequent
ly the brain case. though smaller than
in man, is larger in proportion to the
face. DIR. lie Bon gives some very Gu
rious statistics concerning the capacities
of female skulls. There is no question
ahat the differences in skull and brain
between the sexes increase with the de-
gree of civilization; but it is astonishing
that while the skulls of male Parisians