The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-05-22

when he thought he knew the most. y
Something, then, besides weight
must be considered as index for mental
ability. One authority makes the
following statement:
''The intelligence of an animal de-
ponds principally upon the size of the
brain in proportion to the size of the
body, the size of the cerebrum, and
also upon the number of convolutions
and the completely of it's structure
This in general is true of men. The
human infant has a very large brain,
relatively speaking, but "what it pos
sesses in size it lacks in organization.
Its conVolutions are not many, nor
deep. The appearance is like that of
an apes BRAIN"
Now, If it is true that the head OF a
child stops growing at the age of
years, think how the growth of brain
for years afterward must multiply the
convolutiens. This appears to have
large significance as regards soul
activity.
Once more John Fiske says: eff we
take into account the creasing of the
cerebral surface, the difference be-
tween the brain of Shakespeare and
that of an Australian savage would
doubtless be fifty times greater than
the difference between the Aus
tralian's brain and that of an orangou
tang"
Scientists have found ''nearly con-
slant relation between the extent of
surface presented by the brain of each
genus of mammals and the amount of
intelligence displayed by it, as well as
in different individuals of the same.
genus"
But, however many rules may be
found, they must be general rules.
There are numerous and striking ex-
ceptiOns to nearly all. The brain is
perishable, and upon the skulls of pre-
historic man theories only can be laid.
Cranial capacity does not always
mean large brain. Large brain does
not always mean large mind. The
cortical layer may be large but thin.
"Over and over we find it true,
Little head, little wit,
Big head not a Bit"
We sometimes find, as in Webster,
"Giant brain and giant soul" and
again we have the man of whom Gold
smith wrote,
"...... and still the wonder grew
That one small head could carry all he
knew"
The phrenologist's location Of facul-
ties by bumps must be spurned by men
of science, but localization of brain is
q field of increasing scientific interest,
and one we may long to pursue to
practical advantage.
(See article on ''Some Curiosities of
Thinking" in Popular Science Month
iy, April, 1889
Here let US quote from two physic- |
ians,
al. Different areas of the surface of |
the brain have functions peculiarly |
and exclusively their own: map of |
vast territories, each of which is in
dependent in function, but still capable
of concerted action.
so Each of these areas has to be !
separately educated.
'3. Some parts of the brain develop
more rapidly than others.
81. The higher mental faculties,
such as Judgment, reason, self-contrOl,
etc., require the concerted action of
different parts of the brains surface"
And again,
'FOr the determination of the cor
relation between mental character
istics and cerebral peculiarities, it is
desirable that the brains of we'll known
persons of marked idiosyncracies
should be carefully preserved and
thoughtfully studied. Among the in
dividuals best adapted to subserve this
object are college professors, who have
usually somewhat sharply defined
capacities and attachments and are
the subjects of prolonged and discrim-
mating observation and discussion
among their trustees, colleagues and
students. No professors brain should
be lost to neurological science.
In comparing brains and especially
cerebrums, the following data are de-
sirable but seldom all attainable:
1. Absolute weight after removal of
the dura.
,. Relative weight; l. e. in compar-
ison with the body.
3. Weight OF cerebrum including
the tbalami
4. Form (very difficult to determine
upon the fresh brain.)
5. Degree of fissuration.
6. Depth of fissure.
S. Age.
8. Sex.
10. Cause of death, ETC."
In passing many helpful articles in
'ecent magazines on psychological
tudies we would call atfention to
me OF interest in the February, 1895,
lumber of the Educational Review.
Let US reach after suggestions in this
tme of much study and WEAKNESS of :
he flesh and no conclusion of the
Whole matter, for in spite of all dis
overieS we are still cropping after true
,eys to open doors of knowledge.
After all research, we must come
Jack to the old Greek myth of Psyche
n her beautiful palace, that house not
made with hands, if we would have Z
he true image before us of soul and
'rain. This house has all and more
han the modern improvements. Tel
phones, telegraphs, electric batteries,
lectric dumb walters are more than a
utdone. Noiseless and invisible SER 3
ants wait upon Psyche, spring to "
neet her every wish, to execute her
very command. instantaneous maps
re made, nerve tracks are traced,
nore wonderful than any automatic
meteorological chart, showing graph -
cally, although still in many uninter-
reted heiroglyphics, the record of
er earthly life. Nay; more, greater,
re the labarinths of her home as it T.
xpands for her growth than those of g;
ne chambered nautches-convolu- ~
ons more beautiful follow her work
han the marvellous designs of the