The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-14
Have Women Less Brain Power than
Men?

While the House OF Commons was debat-
ing whether women should have the right
to vote. the Medical Society Of London was
discussing an anatomical topic OF obvious
bearing on the question. On Monday. May
2. the society celebrated Its 11sth anniver-
sary, and tho orator Of tho occasion, Sir
JAMES CREIGHTON BROWNE, discussed the
extent to which difference in sex should call
for difference In education. He inquired
whether it is possible to force male and f.
male intellects to run In the same grooves
and exercise the same activities: and he
looked to anatomy and physiology for the
data on which to base reply.
The reply was unhesitatingly in the mega
tive; but, before reciting the grounds for
it. we should state who the lecturer Is in
order that tho reader may appreciate the
weight attaching to his opinions. Sir
JAMES CREIGHTON BROWNE was for many
years the chief of a large lunatic asylum.
and no Is distinguished among English
alienists for the thoroughness with which
all the resources at his command were
utilized for the study OF cerebral phenom-
ena. He is known. for instance. to have
carried out long series OF minute investi-
cations into the weights and structural
peculiarities OF different brains: and it is In
view OF these researches that he now de-
clares not only that the average weight
OF the female brain is less than that
OF the male. but also that tho disproportion
is much greater than differences Of stature
and general bodily weight would account
for. He AYERS further that while the total
blood supply OF the male and of the female
brain is approximately equal.-allowance
being made for tho comparative poverty
OF female blood in corpuscles-yet that
the distribution OF tho blood Is differ
cnt: the arteries. that is to say.
supplying the anterior portions of the
brain. the seat OF tho intellect. ore larger
In the male. while those which supply the
posterior portions. the scat OF the emotions
and the passions. arc larger in the female
There is even reason to believe that the
specific gravity OF the gray matter.
or active element OF the cerebral
substance. differs in the two sexes
Sir JAMES obtained. 1t seems. typlcally
healthy brains from two men and a woman,
who woro killed by accidents. He found the
white or conducting matter to be OF the
same specific gravity in all three cases: but
differed in different parts OF tho male brains,
and everywhere exceeded that Of the cor
responding portions from the female brain.
Upon these various grounds Of different
weight OF brains. different complexity OF
cerebral structure. different specific gravity
OF the gray matter and a different dis
tribution OF blood supply. Sir JAMES
CREIGHTON BROWNE arrives ut tho conclu-
sion that tho male and female brain arc
organs broadly distinguished from each
other. and inferentialIy. adapted To differ
Ont kinds OF work.
1t Is not. OF course. disputed by this phys
iologlst that somo women may have mas
culine brains. just rs some men may have
feminine brains. It Is not denied that some
women may profit bya masculine educa-
ton. and may even Outstrip masculine stu
donts. MS. for instance. did Miss PHILIPPA
FAwCETr. who was certified to have beaten
the Senior Wrangler at the University OF
But Sir JAMES insists that cd
ucational systems should be adapted not to
exceptions. but to normal types. He is led
by his own physiological researches to be-
lieve that the acquisition OF masculine ed
ucntion by young women Is as rule at
tchucu W ootious uEuWudCh6, Cle WOTh ucCu-
ally involving grave dangers to health. both
prospective and immediate. He adduces the
results Of his inquiries as to tho physical
Of the pupils at school whose
aim was to offer girls course OF instruc-
ton substantially Identical with that OF a
high-grade school for boys. 1t seems that
out OF 1877 girls belonging to the middle and
upper classes. we'll fed and clad and cared
for. and ranging from ton to seventeen
years OF age. as many as 1877 complained Of
headaches. The authority OF Sir RICHARD
OWEN Is quoted for the assertion that |
have no business with headaches,
and that there must be something radically |
wrong with the school In which they fire. |
quently occur.
1t will BIO remembered that the late DR.. |
CLARKE OF Boston based his opposition to
the wonlan's rights movement, whether In