The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-22

Chicago, June 21.-Prof Frederick
Stairs devoted pupils, forming the
grewsome autopsy society of the Uni
versity of Chicago. have entered into
a secret compact to give their brains
10 science when they die. Accompany
ing the cerebral tissue Will be q minute
mental history of the subject. This
will include a truthful statement Of
personal virtues and vices. BY care
full examination of the brain tissue and
the written key it is believed that the
manifold shades Of character may De
located in their respective parts Of the
BRAIN The extent of the written COM
pact follows:
Il, John Doe. being of sound miAd
and in full possession Of all my facul-
ties, do hereby viii and bequeath my
brain in its entirety 10 the autopsy
society of the University of Chicago,
for use IN the laboratories of said in
stitution for the study of anthropology
and for the good Of science"
The learned student of anthropology
has found so much difficulty in obtain
ing the cerebral tissues Of sound-mind
ed persons that he has decided to or
Sanize a society of those devoted to
science who will have their brains de-
hvered to the society for scientific uses
when they have no further personal
use for them.
The other day in the laboratory class
in physical anthrOpOlogy which Prof.
Starr conducts at the University of
Chicago. the idea of such a society was
discussed and met with almost unani-
nous approval from those present. The
professor especially vas filed with the
good points OF the scheme. and the
glowing reports which ne gave of the
autopsy clubs of France won over all
who were not favorable to the idea at
frs.
The students were the more easily
susceptible to his rhetoric because they
all have felt the disadvantages under
which they have had 70 work SO far in
their course. 1t has been perfectly easy
to obtain the brains OF idiots, maniacs
and criminals for the work of the class
in the laboratory, and interesting data
has been gained as to what a mans
brain should not be. But to learn how
the brain would appear in man whose
condition is normal or who has de-
velOped his mind along healthy lines
been to build up an idea of such a brain
from the differences in the defective
head works which have been exam
ined.
With these thoughts impelling them,
the members of the class promised to
give such help as they could TO such
society and to enroll their names when
the plans shall have been further de-
velCped. Prot Starr at once began to
formulate the rough scheme which had
come TO him. but as he went off to
Mexico before the matter was put in
shape he was obliged TO postpone or
ganization for a month or more.
Besides the bequeathing of the brain
to the sOcist.. which is the common
feature of the autopsy clubs Of France
and the United States, the society at
the University of Chicago Will provide
for an innovation Which Will add much
to its value.
Each member viii be sworn 10 write
out a truthful. conscientious and so far
as possible unbiased history OF his
mental processes from the beginning
TO the end of his life. He must also
include a candid estimate of all the
vices and virtues which have Influenced
him
This mental autobiography will go
with the mass OF gray and white tissue
as SPECIES of key 10 its ccnvolutions
and ether Deculiarities. II is thought
that by having Il great number of such
specimens and documents the differ
ences in mental life may at last he To-
Gated in their own especial districts liz
the b~cin.
Among other duties. the officers Of
the society viii be sw orn TO keep close
watch C. the members as thew leave
the school, so that the terms CT mem
bership NAV ne aS,e-sd to.
Besides the provision that the mem
bers VII he Of use after death. there
will probably ne social features to the
society, d yearly banquet. occasional
lectures. exc. PIovision viii also lie
made for calling the membership to-
gether when a new legacy has been
passed through the courts Of prctate
and is delivered to the keeping OF the
society. The specimens will he kept in
the museums ard labcra; cries CT tle
univerSi-y, and the meetings viii be
held III the biological laboratories.