The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-12-08
BRAINS BY REQUEST.
CORNELL SCIENTISTS UNIQUE
ORGANIZATION,
An Association the Object or Which
70 to Secure Subjects for
Study I'm the Interest
OF Mankind.

Study I'm the Interest
of Mankind.
y CHEMISTS at Cornell College
~ are looking for brains. This
- does not mean that they are
dissatisfied with those IN their
own craniums. 1t simply means that
in their desire to promote the good of
humanity they have formed an organ.
ization, known as the Cornell Brain
Association, to take charge of the
brains OF deceased testators in the in
terest of science.
Burt Ct. Wilder, professor OF physi.
ology, vertebrate zoology and neur-
ology in Cornell College, is Mt the head
of this unique organization. He is
enthusiastic in his advocacy OF Its
plans. He is trying to educate the
minds OF those with whom he comes in
contact to point where they will
understand that it is nobler and better
to give the brain to the uses of science
after death than to have it molder in
the earth or become food for worms.
1t is an honor, he says, to have the
brain forever preserved among those
of distinguished msthematicians, sci
entis,s and writers, the signed requests
OF whom he already has ii his posses
sion.
The form of bequest ne has devised
Is an interesting ole. Its text is here
with gwen:
I, -, now of -. student OF Cornell
Universe V from IS TO IS. and graduated
in lS-, recognizing the need OF studvinc The
brains OF educated persons rather than these
OF the ignorant, criminal or insane. in order
10 determine their weight. form and tlssural
pattern, the coIrelations with bodily and
mental powers Of various kinds and degrees.
and the influences OF sex, age aud inheri-
tence, hereby clare my wish that az my
death my brain be Entrusted to tho Cornell
Brain Association for scientific uses, aud for
preservation, as whole or in part. as may
be thought best. 1t is my hope that my
lam ~ and friends muy not oppose the full
flllment of this my earnest wish. -.
Da:e -. Witness -
Note-Copies OF provisional diagrams of
the assures will be mailed on application to
the undersigned. For a br ef statement OF
reason for the study of the brains OF educat-
cd persons sec Bucks Reference Handbook
Of the Medical Sciences. (William Wood &
Co., New York; viii, 1G3, and tx, 100
Burt G.. Wilder. Nj. D.. professor OF physi.
ology, vertebrate zoology aud neurology.
Cornell University. Ithaca, n. Y.
Professor Wilder gave copy OF this
form OF bequest to n correspondent
who visited his laboratory, overlook
ing Lake Cnyuga. The form, properly
filled out, guarantees that Il certain"
brain will sometime repose IN Jar nj
Cornell, properly numbered and
labeled, TO be used for the purpose
stated. He has made the human brain
his life study. He is among the fore
most specialists in the world, and has
written innumerable books upon the
subject, which are used as authorities
IN many higher universities AMI col
leges. Several years ago he began to
examine brains of educated and nor.
NAL persons, instead OF those of GRIM
mails and paupers, which have former
ly been the only ones o5tainab,e
There was much prejudice to com
bat In his work. Science and senti-
ment had largely forbidden and re-
stricted ali experiments with the
human brain, except in the case of
criminal paupers and the insane. Dr.
Wilder used his voice and pen to such
an advantage. however, that he won
converts to his belief who afterward
became enthusiasts.
"Who can set limit" he wrote.
ION the results that might have been
attained from examinations OF the
brains of soldiers like Grant, Sherman
and Sheridan, of preachers like
Beechcr, Brooks and Howard Crosby,
of naturalists like Agassiz, Gray and
Jefiries Wymau, of lawyers like Til
den, Conkling and Benjamin f. But
Ter? How long must science wait Tor
general sentiment such as is EN-
bodied in the declaration of an emf.
nent historian that science is rs wei
come TO his brain rs to his old hat.
and that he wished he had ten of
them -
At present the professor has in his
possession about ten OF the brains that
have been bequeathed to him. The
signed bequests that have come IN.
solicited number nearly fifty, but he
says he will examine at least one hun.
dred OF these normal or educated
brains before he will make any peuer.
nlizatloD. He admits, however, that
his research has taught him much, and
that the future holds unlimited dis.
covcries in this field.
There are many who shy that the
professor has already evolved MANY
interesting opinions regarding the
mysteries Of thought as shown IN the
BRAN Fl Ires, of the wonders of in
stinct in animals and the germs Of
hereditary insanity aud Of criminal
instincts rs shown in the brain cells.
Beneath white curtain swung
across one side of his laboratory stood
n row of jars, each one containing n
human brain in n perfect State Of
preservation, the original shape add
color absolutely correct, the assures
plainly disccruiblo in all their wonder.
tul difference. Each is distinctly
labeled with tho name of its former
owner and few descriptive words.
One brain, remarkably large and
different in appearance from the
others, is marked "Chauncey Wright,
mathematician an scientist" An.
other has "Jomes Edward Oliver, Pro.
lessor Of Mathematics in Cornell Col.
lege.' Another IS marked "E. l.. T..
Curtis, educated farmer" Still nm.