The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-04-04
PRIMITIVE MAN.
Professor VirchOw SkepticaI About
the Neanderthal S1xull-Has Dis
covered Various DeviatiOns.

During the recent meeting of the
congress of anthropologists at Metz
Prof. Virchow read an important
paper on prehistoric Men and the
Distinction Between Species and Va.
riety." After pointing out that two
kinds of change can be discerned in
the human rganism-namely, Blu
menbach's innate variation, and, Sec
ondly, changes occurring during life
time-the professor went on to say:
''The artifcially caused change or
reformation belongs, strictly speak.
ing, to the science of pathology.
There are, however, transitions; and
it is, therefore, difficult strictly to
distinguish the latter from an inner
tied or acquired change. The ques-
ton of the descent of man has led to
many controversies about the Mean
derthal skull In many quarters it
has been regarded as the prototype
of a supposed original human race,
called also 'Adamites.' The anat-
,omist, Prof. Schwalbe, of Strasburg,
has recently reeXamined this skull.
and declared it to be that of pre-.
historic race, which inhabited a large
portion of Europe, and was akin to
the present Australian negro"
Prof. Virchow, however, main
tanned that this hypothesis lacks the
necessary foundation, and proceeded:
'The fact that the skull exhibits
some peculiar traits which may be
considered, in part, as individualistic,
and partly as pathological forma-
tons, makes the matter very doubt
full. 1t is, moreover, impossible to
infer from single individual what a
whole race may have been. Hence,
the Neanderthal skull, and the frag-
ments of skeleton belonging to it,
cannot be accepted as the prototype
of an original race. The doubt about
the hypothesis is all the greater as
a 'Neanderthal-lilse' skull formation
is not infrequently found among
people now living in different coun-
tries. 1t cannot be denied that the
skulls of the Frisians in northwest
ern Germany and the neighboring
districts of Holland show certain
similarity to that of Neanderthal.
This might be taken as a proof in
favor Of the hypothesis; but some of
those peculiar formations-for ex-
ample, the fairness of the prominent
parietal bone-cannot be looked upon
as normal
Furthermore, the conclusions
drawn from the examination of few
skulls are misleading. We must not
be induced to build up anatomical
arguments for racial differences on
the uncertain basis of the Neander.
thai SKULL
Prof. Virchow had himself careful
ly examined the Neanderthal skull,
and discovered various deviations,
which he regarded as showing an alb
normal development. He argued,
therefore, that the said skull can
hardly be accepted as the type of
a race. This brought him to the
principle that ga whole race cannot
be reconstructed from single skull.
but only from a numerous series of
objects which allow reconstruction
of average normal conditions The
professor then referred to the ex.
PLANTATION recently given by Prof.
Bali regarding the Amos of Japan.
Prof. BALI is of the opinion that this
race of hairy men is a scattered rem
nant of the Caucasian race, and COM
pares it with the Russian peasants.
Prof. Virchow, on the other hand.
maintained that there are marked
differences between the two races.
but that it is, at any rate, impossible
for the present to arrive at any def
nitS conclusion as to the origin of
the Amos.