The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-22
THE BRAIN AND THE MEMORY.
1t Is Assumed That Every Thought Is .
Separate Lodger in the Brain.


What is the brain like in its capacity
of storehouse, and what should we see
if we could reduce our stature to in
fnitesimal proportions and travel along
the corridors of the brain? Does it con-
tain galleries of pictures? Is it fur
nished with shelves and pigeon-holes
for the classification and care of records
and messages? 1t is impossible to con-
ceive what kind of apparatus or fittings
ran at once be suita BILE for storing up
pictures and sounds and all the varie
ties of impressions received from all
the senses. Nor can we discover any
curious machinery, even with the mi.
croscope. for the structure of the gray
matter is so minute as TO defy the
powers of the lens, and all that we can
detect is an agglomeration of minute
cells.
A calculation has been made regard,
ing the number of these brain cells. II
is assumed that every thought or per.
ception is a separate ledger in the
mind, requiring an apartment Of the
brain to itself; and the cells are the
apartments. We have to provide &c.
commodation for all the incidents OF
our everyday life, for all we read in
the daily papers, for all that our school
masters crammed inOo us, and all that
we have learned since. How is thi.
possible in one small skull? Our con-
ception is assisted by photography,
which can print the Lords prayer so
small that it requires a powerful mi
crOscope TO read 1t. Surely, then, min
ute portions of the brain NAV contain
great deal? The cells vary in size
from 1-S0O of an inch in diameter to
Is, 600: and this being known it is not
difficult to estimate the entire number
of them in the brain. DIR. Hooke, the
mathematician, said 3, 155, 7G0. 900; but
according to Maynerts calculation tie
number of cerebral cells is only co.,
600, 600.
Seeing that the doctors differ. let us
use the slate and pencil ourselves. The
thinking power of the brain is be-
lieved to reside in the gray matter OF
the surface. This is a sheet of cellular
nerve substance, which is crumpled
into convolutions through being con.
fined within the narrow limits of the
skull If il were spread out dat il
would be found equal to layer one
inch in thickness and twelve inches
long by eleven inches broader slight
ly mo-e-giving a total of 134 cubic
ioches. If all the cells were one-three-
hundred+h of an inch in diameter
there would be room for @, $50, 900 OF
them in one cubic inch, and therefore
for 3,61S, coo. 900 in the WHOLE; bus
since many OF the cells art
smaller, the total number mus;
be greater. Let Us, however, be con-
tent with the 3,61s million. What is &
million? The Bible. Old and New
Testament together, is said to cortair
about $3.50 600 Of letters: we should
therefore, have to pile up lib ccpiei
of the Scriptures 10 get heap con-
tanning as many letters as the brain
contains cells. As each cell NAV &C
commodate one idea or thought, proba
bly, even smaller storehou.e would
suffice for the wants Of the average
human creature. On the other hand
when great thinkers require more &C
comr9odatiOn they may, perhaps, be
able to grow more brain cells, and
Webster did tell greas American
scholar that he had 70 change the sizt
Of his hat every fsw years. n Y |
Weekly.