Mesa free press., 1898-11-04
WOMEN's BRAIN POWER.
Test of Size of Brain Com pared with
Mans Pronounced Worthless.

Test of Size of Brain Compared with
Mans Pronounced Worthless.
Sir William Turner, at a meeting of
the British Medical Association at
Montreal, once again brought forward
the old assertion that because the brain
Of a man weighs absolutely more than
that Of q woman, therefore man Is
possessed of greater amount Of brain
power than is woman. This theory un-
til recent times was on all sides con-
ceded to be true, and was regarded as
a convincing proof of woman's intel
lectual inferiority, says writer in the
New York Medical Record.
The Russian, Prof. Darkchevitch,
took up the cudgels in defense Of the
weaker sex, and demonstrated to the
satisfaction Of the majority that the
fact of a mans brain weighing slightly
more than a woman's was worthless as
a testimony Of his superior intellectu-
ality capacity. Prof. Darkchevitch
contends, from the result of his re-
searches, that the sexes as regards
brain power are on an equality, and
backs up the argument in support Of
his theory with many convincing Illus
trations. For instance, Skobeleff's-
brain weighed less than that of forty
individual common soldiers, yet no one
would dream for this reason of max
ing the assertion that these men were
the superior Of Skobeleff in ability.
Liebig's brain was also under the aver
age weight.
The opinions on this matter are di-
verse and various. A large number Of
persons still hold to the views Of Sir
William Turner, and with him con-
scfentiously believe that the lesser
weight Of woman's brain implies in
itself the possession Of less mental
power. On the other hand, many side
with Darkchevitch and say that her
cumulative and retentive powers are
equal to those Of a man. The ques-
tion may here be asked: Has woman's
intellectual inferiority ever clearly been
proved? That it has been Is probably
the opinion of most persons. From an
anatomical and physiological point of
view. also, she is by many authorities
relegated to a position lower than that
occupied by man. The supporters of
the theory of woman's intellectual in
feriority point out, too, with triumph
that in scarcely any branch Of science,
art or literature has she ever reached
quite the front rank.
This Is all true enough, but 1T must
at least be granted that the cause for
q part Of her failure should be put
down to her comparative lack Of oppor7
tunity, and the fact should be taken
into consideration that up to the pres
ent time, from the conditions of her
life, she has been heavily handicapped
In the race for fame. May not also
the difference in the brains Of men and
women be looked for not so much in
the ponderosity as in the quality. A
Woman's brain from the nature Of
things Is to certain extent Of another
type. The natural role Of woman
differs widely from that Of man, and
she is provided with or has evolved
brains suited to her situation. Never
theless, in these times It often happens
that woman from the stress Of cir
cumstances Is prevented from fulfilling
her natural mission and is compelled
to compete with men. She has shown
her capability successfully to do so,
but in the action must necessarily lose
many Of her feminine characteristics.
The wisest course to take will perhaps
be to leave the final settlement of the
question in allegiance until the evolu-
ton Of the new woman has been more
fully accomplished.